The Bears’ offense is looking downright scary. Chicago has agreed to sign wide receiver Taylor Gabriel to a four-year deal, according to former NFL player Andrew Hawkins (on Twitter). The news has been confirmed by Peter Schrager of NFL.com (Twitter link). 
The four-year deal is worth $26MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal includes $14MM guaranteed with a maximum value of $28MM.
Earlier this month, Gabriel bid farewell to the Falcons as he anticipated better offers to come in from other teams. He found the proposal he was seeking from Chicago, which has changed its offensive attack for the better.
In 2016, Gabriel put himself on the map with 35 receptions for 379 yards and six touchdowns. Last year, those numbers dropped off a bit with 33 receptions for 378 yards and one score. Still, he brings lots of speed to the Bears’ passing game, which also now includes free agent pickups Allen Robinson and Trey Burton.
After settling for bargain buys last year in the form of Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright, the Bears committed to serious shopping this year. Chicago has been extremely active in free agency thus far, allocating much of its cap space to helping a passing game that injuries decimated last season.
The Bears were without Cameron Meredith and Kevin White last season, with tight end Zach Miller going down with a scary injury as well. The team tendered Meredith, an RFA, at the original-round level and still has White under contract. But Robinson, Burton and now Gabriel are going to play key roles in the Windy City.
Once waived by the Browns, Gabriel then caught on as a key target for the NFC champion Falcons in 2016. The six touchdowns Gabriel caught that year, though, represent three-fourths of Gabriel’s TDs over a four-year career. His per-catch average plummeted by five yards, to 11.5, in 2017. But he wasn’t the only Falcon to produce worse numbers in Steve Sarkisian‘s offense compared to Kyle Shanahan‘s.
Now, Mitch Trubisky will have a chance to develop a rapport with several playmakers with higher-end potential.
[RELATED: Bears Depth Chart]
downright scary?
3 out of 4 in division, chill out
Lol they have Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel now… and trubisky at qb maybe scary to the browns but def not scary
Things could change fast. All comes down to how fast (and if) Trubisky develops. But assuming he does, the Bears would have quite a few weapons and a head coach with a pretty fun offensive system.
That was my thought too. They’re improving a lot and I’m glad they’re putting pieces around Trubisky, but all three other teams in the NFC North probably have much better offenses than they do.
Too early to say that. Bisky has shown potential, just needs snaps and time to develop.
Give em a minute, for pete’s sake. You chill.
Downright scary?
Get off the meth and tide pods kid.
Im a bears fan and these are nice but not great this isnt the 07 Patriots
FOH
I would not scary but also consider a top RB duo too. Power and quicks with an offensive minded head coach. Is the start of something good but the o-line still needs to be improved too.
downright scary only compared to the markus wheaton kendall wright led group of last year
Solid. They look a lot better already on offense. Good Offensive minded HC, Trubisky is a year in and had some weapons on Offense plus whoever they get in the draft.
hard not to look better considering what they had last year, so that’s not saying much
OMG… Give it time one day OMG
Better on offense but I’m thinking a stud off lineman , G Nelson in draft? I’m thinking he may be gone by 8th pick. If buff trades with Denver at 5 to get Qb they have a shot at him but still not optimistic he’s there at 8, giants may grab him at 2?
Yeah, don’t think Nelson will make it, probably defense in the first and perhaps a developmental WR (Kirk or The kid from SMU) in the second?
Next up Jordy Nelson?
That would be Sweeeet
Their offense may not suddenly become scary, but they will be better. Fangio’s defense is what may be scary. He’s only a couple players shy of having a top 5-10 group. If you’ve watched how far they’ve come in the past couple of years, you know that’s not an exaggeration.
Don’t forget kids, when Kevin White comes back it’ll be like an additional first round pick, just like the last three years
Get a life!!
I think (hope) he was joking.
Says the guy also commenting on the internet – newsflash: none of us have lives