Kendall Wright will attempt to re-establish his value in a new locale in 2017. The former first-round Titans pick will join the Bears on a one-year deal worth up to $4MM, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The team confirmed the move (via Twitter).
Wright will join Markus Wheaton in trekking to Chicago from the AFC on what will be a revamped Bears receiving corps, one that lost Alshon Jeffery.
After being marginalized in what became a run-based attack in Tennessee, Wright knew he would not be back for a sixth Titans season shortly after his fifth concluded. He was a healthy scratch in Tennessee’s regular-season finale and did not surpass 500 receiving yards in either of his final two Titans slates.
But the 27-year-old Wright, who’s played much of his career in the slot, has a 1,000-plus-yard receiving season to his credit. He finished the 2013 campaign with 94 receptions, 1,079 yards and two touchdowns. He added six touchdowns in 2014, a season that featured 715 yards for Wright, but one that doubled as his last as the Titans’ clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver. After going for more than 2,300 yards in his first three seasons with Jake Locker as the primary distributor, Wright totaled just 824 in his last two Titans seasons.
Wright likely had a backer in a high-ranking place on the Bears’ coaching staff, with former Titans OC Dowell Loggains now the Chicago OC. Loggains was Tennessee’s OC from 2012-13.
With the signing, the Bears are expected to release Eddie Royal, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes. Royal, who will turn 31 in May, has one year remaining on his contract, but the $5MM that he is due in 2017 contains no guarantees, so Chicago can clear the full $5MM from its salary cap by cutting him. Per Biggs, Royal’s contract will likely be terminated when he can pass a physical after undergoing surgery in late December to repair a turf toe issue.
Grabbing at straws.
At this point, it has to be a suck for luck approach to the season. The defense will be decent. The offense will be awful.
I’m so sick of hearing excuses from you Cutler apologists. He had Alshon, Martellus Bennett, Forte, B-Marshall, and a top 4 defense, and he still SUCKED.
The offense and team in general will be better with Cutler gone.
Seriously. So easy a Rex Grossman could do it. When you drop below Rex Grossman, it’s time to walk away lololol.
You are greatly misremembering things. The teams loaded with Marshall, Alshon, Forte, and Bennett were totally undone by garbage defense. Not Cutler. Like 2013- second in the league in points scored, 30th in defense.
ChiSoxCity, on what earth when Cutler had ALL of those weapons, was the defense ranked #4? If you’re going to talk out of your ass, do research. They might have had a top 10 defense when Cutler only had Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox, and Devon Hester to throw to. But the Defense was HORRIBLE when he had ALL of the weapons you mentioned. Ugh, go away.
Exactly. When the Bears were a top 2 offense, the defense was awful. Mel Tucker had no idea what he was doing.
Hey Dan, when’s Johnny Knox coming back?
At what point did I insinuate that I’m a Cutler apologist? I’m glad he’s gone. He had an arm, but crippled the teams chances to win games with completely avoidable turnovers.
Replacing Alshon with Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright isn’t ideal. Alshon was a jump up and get it type WR, both Wright and Wheaton are speed guys, so I’m skeptical on how it will work out.
The Bears needed to turn the page on the Cutler era, and I’m glad they did. Pace has been great at evaluating college talent and it’s shown in the draft. I also think Fangio is an under appreciated coach for the defense, in just not sold on John Fox.
Vic Fangio has never been underrated. He’s the best coach the Bears have. Cutler never made his teammates better, the great QBs get their teams to playoffs regardless of defense. Radio analysts who think Cutler won’t start for some team are clueless, some bad QB’s in the league. Like to see Houston sign Jay, see if can’t help them miss playoffs next year.
Nice Move!
More like Kendall Wrong…
Nailed it
Love this signing
4M isnt that much. Ozzie and the Ravens should have gotten him.
Yeah Bears should’ve traded for brady, dez, and Antonio Brown……Stupid Bears
Dowell (Kenny) Loggins shouldn’t be coaching, please tell me Pace isn’t signing players Loggins likes. If Royal or Kevin White aren’t healthy for start of season Bears still don’t have a starting caliber WR on Roster
Can Meredith came on the last part of the season, he’ll be the #1 if White can’t show he’s not a bust…
Oh ok Grebeck the GM of the team is going to ask his OC who he likes and based on that not sign them but only sign ones his OC does not like. Ok. Sure.
Loggains shouldn’t even be a coordinator, so the fact he’s influencing this signing is scary. 94 catches 1 yr is reason for optimism though. Bears not landing 1 big time CB, T, S & WR is pretty weak
White, Meredith, Wheaton, Wright, Rookie
Do any of these guys have return abilities? Because carrying Deonte Thompson as a 6th WR and special teams guy is a poor use of roster space.
Wheaton can return
Plus they resigned Josh Bellamy
My guess is Wheaton will be the returner too. He’s one of the fastest guys in the league when healthy.
Why don’t the Cutler haters ever talk about how bad his offensive line was?