Bears 2021 WR review: Plenty of question marks outside of Darnell Mooney

Brendan Sugrue

February 6, 2022 at 2:47 PM·7 min read

The Chicago Bears wrapped another disappointing season that resulted in the firings of general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy. With the offseason in full swing, it provides an opportunity for the new regime in GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus to look back at went right, what went wrong and how to improve in 2022.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2021 Bears and grading every player. Next up is wide receiver, which will likely look drastically different next season.

PREVIOUS POSITION REVIEWS: QBS, RBs

Allen Robinson: D

Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

Season stats: 66 targets, 38 receptions, 410 yards (10.8 yards per reception), 1 touchdown

After three years of excellent play, Allen Robinson’s production cratered during the 2021 season. Playing on the franchise tag, Robinson fell down the pecking order when it came to targets and usage, while also battling injuries. He was nowhere near the 1,000-yard receiver we have come to expect and didn’t score a touchdown after Week 2. He failed to eclipse 70 yards in a single game and had his effort questioned on multiple occasions. In short, it was Robinson’s worst season since his rookie year, outside of when he tore his ACL in week one back in 2017.

Details surfaced from Robinson after the season that showed a fallout between him and Nagy, possibly playing a significant role in his lack of production in the Bears offense. Now a free agent again, Robinson isn’t likely to return next season, despite a new regime taking over. But wherever he lands, chances are he’ll look more like the player who had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons than last year’s version.

Darnell Mooney: B+

AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn

Season stats: 140 targets, 81 receptions, 1,055 yards (13 yards per reception), 4 touchdowns

While nearly every other receiver failed to meet expectations, Darnell Mooney exceeded them. The second-year receiver took the next step after a solid rookie debut, becoming the team’s top option at the position. Mooney played in all 17 games and eclipsed 100 yards in four of them. Whether it was Justin Fields, Andy Dalton, or even Nick Foles, Mooney was usually the most-targeted wideout on the team. He showed the ability to shake free of defenders and be both a deep threat and a possession receiver. He does have a few areas to work on still and had nine drops on the season after having just one in 2020.

Still, Mooney figures to be one of they key offensive weapons moving forward. He sort of has to be at this point as he’s one of the only wide receivers under contract. The question is, who else will the Bears bring in – or back – to compliment him?

Marquise Goodwin: D+

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Season stats: 40 targets, 20 receptions, 313 yards (15.7 yards per reception), 1 touchdown

In theory, Marquise Goodwin seemed like the perfect WR3 or WR4 for this team. He has Olympic-caliber speed and has proven to be an effective deep threat. He signed with the Bears this offseason on a one-year deal after opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. Goodwin got off to a solid start last season, catching all four targets for 45 yards in week one, but then became a nonfactor for much of the year after that.

Goodwin’s peak came midway through the season when he had over 150 yards in two games, scoring his lone touchdown of the season. He had two long gains in those games, one coming against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the other against the Baltimore Ravens. But he couldn’t get much of anything going outside of that stretch in a stagnant passing attack and likely won’t be back for the 2022 season.

Damiere Byrd: C-

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Season stats: 38 targets, 26 receptions, 329 yards (12.7 yards per reception), 1 touchdown

Like Goodwin, Byrd was brought in on a one-year deal to play a complimentary role to Mooney and Robinson. And also like Goodwin, he wasn’t much of a factor outside of a few games. Byrd was coming off a career year with the New England Patriots and boasted a lot of quickness and speed. But through the first half of the season, he had just four catches for 29 yards.

Thanks to injuries, however, Byrd saw more playing time and had some success on offense. His only score of the season came on 54-yard catch and run against the Green Bay Packers, but he had one of the plays of the year against the Seattle Seahawks. After a late touchdown by Jimmy Graham, Byrd caught the game-winning two-point conversion in the back of the end zone, narrowly getting his feet down in bounds.

Between Goodwin and Byrd, I’d say Byrd is the more likely candidate to return to the team in 2022. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bears move on from both of them.

Jakeem Grant Sr.: C

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Season stats: 15 targets, 9 receptions, 139 yards (15.4 yards per reception), 2 touchdowns

When the Bears acquired Jakeem Grant Sr. from the Miami Dolphins for a future sixth-round pick, it was so he could become their primary return specialist. But due to injuries and COVID issues late in the season, Grant saw extended time at the receiver position and made the most of it. His two best games at the receiver position came in back-to-back weeks where he scored touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers. Grant used his electrifying speed to burn defenders to the endzone, and showed he had some decent hands to make tough catches.

Grant made the Pro Bowl as a return specialist but like nearly every other wide receiver, is a free agent at the end of the year. There’s a shot the Bears re-sign him, but it will be to play primarily on special teams. Still, Grant can make plays happen on offense when he needs to and the Bears certainly needed it this past season.

Dazz Newsome: F

AP Photo/Wade Payne

Season stats: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 23 yards (11.5 yards per reception), 0 touchdowns

When Dazz Newsome was selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, there was a ton of excitement about what he could bring to the Bears. Turns out it wasn’t much, at least in his rookie season. Newsome spent nearly the entire year on the practice squad after failing to make a splash in the preseason. He was called up in late December and saw just a couple of catches, while also filling in for Grant in the return game. Though he was able to have some success on special teams, Newsome’s rookie season was a bust overall. Hopefully he can turn a corner in 2022, if he even comes back to the Bears.

Isaiah Coulter: F

Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Season stats: 1 target, 0 receptions, 0 yards, 0 touchdowns

Isaiah Coulter was signed late in training camp after being waived by the Houston Texans. The expectation was that he could provide depth while working into the return game. He did neither as Coulter played in just two games without recording a statistic. Coulter did sign a reserve/future contract so he will have a shot to make an impact during the offseason programs.

Rodney Adams: F

AP Photo/John Amis

Season stats: 1 target, 0 receptions, 0 yards, 0 touchdowns

Rodney Adams was the preseason darling, catching everything in sight and doing whatever it took to try and make the team. Adams had been in the league since 2017, but bounced around in played in just one game with no receptions in his career. He had a hoard of fans rooting him on, but he was unable to make the active roster and spent most of the year on the practice squad. His time finally came against the Cardinals, however, and Adams was set to catch his first regular season pass from Andy Dalton. But it hit him in the hands and fell to the ground. Talk about a letdown of an ending. Adams played in just that one game and he’s already moved on, signing a reserve/future contract with the Jets.

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