Chicago Bears Rumors: Matt Forte Trade Not Likely, Amari Cooper Draft Target With Michael Crabtree, Greg Jennings Options For Jay Cutler?

Mar 30, 2015 11:29 AM EDT
Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears
Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears (L) breaks a tackles from Bruce Carter #54 of the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 4, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cowboys defeated the Bears 41-28."

The Chicago Bears have a top 10 pick in the NFL draft and they may look at Amari Cooper or Kevin White as options and the team may also target players like Michael Crabtree, Greg Jennings, Reggie Wayne, Denarius Moore and Hakeem Nicks on the free agent market and this comes as John Fox will not be making a trade with Jay Cutler or Matt Forte.

The team traded away Brandon Marshall to the Jets this offseason and Michael C. Wright reports that the Bears likely will look at adding another receiver after signing Eddie Royal. The team has Alshon Jeffery as the number one receiver with Marshall gone and he will have Royal and Marquess Wilson behind him along with whoever the Bears end up adding. Wright reports that Cooper and White are the top two targets if the team drafts a wide receiver at number seven in the first round.

John Fox said that Cutler will need to win the starting job and while he is likely to do that, there is a chance that Jimmy Clausen could outshine him over the summer. Cutler is coming in after a down season, but he is coming back after being dogged by trade rumors and that could motivate him in 2015. The team has Jeffery as the clear number one now and with players like Michael Crabtree, Greg Jennings, Reggie Wayne, Denarius Moore and Hakeem Nicks on the market, the Bears likely to add at least one more veteran along with Eddie Royal.

Matt Forte has come up in trade rumors this offseason due to his age and contract status, with Michael C. Wright reporting that it's unlikely the team makes a move. Forte is 29 years old and will be 30 by the end of the season, but he is coming off of a strong year and right now the Bears do not have a better option. There is a chance the team will go after someone like Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon in the draft, but that doesn't mean Forte will get traded. There are some free agents left on the market like Steven Jackson, Stevan Ridley and Knowshon Moreno, but the Bears are more likely to look at the draft over signing one of those veterans.

Thje 49ers have shown interest in Nicks and bringing back Crabtree, while the Dolphins have also looked into those players as well. Crabtree has been in on a visit with the Dolphins, while Jennings has also had interest from Miami and has visited with the Carolina Panthers. Moore would be a low cost, high upside option after a disappointing run with the Raiders, while Wayne would be a cheap, veteran option after not being signed back by the Colts.

The draft gives the Bears a good spot to take a wide receiver if they want and some reports have the team also looking at Marcus Mariota. Cooper is considered to be the best receiver coming out in this class and that means he could be gone by the time the Bears pick. Cooper is projected by many to go at number four to the Raiders after he had a big season at Alabama with 16 touchdowns and 124 receptions last year. White is also a potential option after he had a strong season at West Virginia. 

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