The Chicago Bears are making sure to put weapons around Justin Fields this season. After the massive trade that brought in DJ Moore, GM Ryan Poles decided to keep a veteran from last year. The Bears have re-signed wide receiver Dante Pettis to a one-year deal.
Friendly face alert:
The #Bears have announced they are bringing back WR Dante Pettis on a 1 year deal, per the @ChicagoBears
Pettis in 2022
245 Rec yards 3 TDs pic.twitter.com/BpiZiROXoG— Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) April 17, 2023
Pettis had a decent year considering the state of the passing offense. He had 245 receiving yards and also caught three touchdowns. The speedy receiver out of Washington has bounced around the league in his career finding pockets of success. The hope is that with a diminished role, he can make a larger impact. Moore, Chase Claypool, and Darnell Mooney are most likely the top three with Pettis being the fourth or fifth option. He won’t be required to carry the offensive load so he might find more success on the team.
No matter who the Bears sign it is all about the development of Fields. He has some truly abysmal passing games last season in some cases never eclipsing 100 yards. In 2023, even bad passing offenses should be able to put up some kind of stats. If the Bears are going to make any noise this season, Fields must prove that he can be a decent thrower of the ball and not just an elite runner. If he can improve, the Bears might be a scary team down the road.
Re-signing Dante Pettis may not seem like a huge signing but having a veteran in the room is never a bad thing for a rebuilding team like the Chicago Bears. The Bears must show some type of improvement next year. They still have a lot of holes on the roster and will look to fill them in the upcoming NFL draft. They are building the capital, now they just have to hit on the picks.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!