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The Chicago Bears continue to add more speed and explosiveness to their offense this offseason. Their latest addition is former New England Patriots receiver Damiere Byrd, who inked a one-year deal with the Bears.
Last season with the Patriots, Byrd had career highs with 47 catches and 604 yards. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Byrd is an absolute speedster, who ran a 4.28 40-yard dash in college.
Byrd also brings some experience when it comes to returning kicks on special teams, as he’s returned both punts and kickoffs during his career. With Cordarrelle Patterson leaving in free agency, Chicago has at least a kick returner position up for grabs. And while running back Tarik Cohen has taken care of returning punts, he’s coming off an ACL injury sustained on a punt return, and the Bears might be looking to find someone else to return punts.
But how does Byrd impact the Bears’ wide receivers depth chart? Does his addition likely signal the end of Anthony Miller in Chicago?
This offseason, the Bears have added three wide receivers through free agency and the NFL draft, including a couple of slot receivers, which could certainly indicate that Miller’s time might be done in Chicago. He’s been rumored to be on the trade block, but we’ll see how things ultimately pan out.
Byrd could certainly be that replacement for Miller, especially coming off a career year, where Byrd led the Patriots in receiving yards. He’s another speedy weapon for new franchise quarterback Justin Fields — and Andy Dalton, however long he lasts as the starter.
Behind Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney, there were question marks at receiver. Which is why the Bears went out and added a pair of experienced veterans in Marquise Goodwin and now Byrd. They also drafted Dazz Newsome in the sixth round, a prospect that has the potential to make the 53-man roster and be a valuable special teams contributor.
Byrd’s addition should also put Javon Wims and Riley Ridley on notice. Assuming Miller stays in Chicago, that would leave just one vacant receiver spot open for Wims, Ridley and Newsome to battle it out. And if Newsome shows something special — with the added special teams value — he could sneak his way onto the roster.
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