Bears 2024 training camp preview: Wide receivers

Chicago Bears training camp is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.

We’re unveiling our Bears 2024 training camp position previews, where we’re breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.

Next up are the wide receivers, a position group that was once the laughingstock of the NFL just two years ago. Now, they're seen as one of the best thanks to a few shrewd moves from general manager Ryan Poles. DJ Moore is back as the top option after a strong first season in Chicago, but joining him is perennial Pro Bowl veteran Keenan Allen, and hotshot rookie Rome Odunze, to give the Bears arguably the best wide receiver trio in the NFL.

Behind the three-headed monster is second-year wideout Tyler Scott, speedster Velus Jones Jr., and special teams contributors such as Dante Pettis, DeAndre Carter, Nsimba Webster, and Collin Johnson.

Let's go deep and zero in on the Bears' wide receivers heading into training camp.

DJ Moore

Going into the 2023 season, the Bears desperately needed a No. 1 wide receiver, and Moore was the answer to their problems. Moore was acquired as part of the blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers and wound up having a career year, totaling 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns through a variety of plays. Moore made defenders miss tackles on plenty of screen passes, found the soft zones of the defense on deep patterns, and even had a rushing touchdown. He was easily the offensive MVP, accounting for 40% of the team's receiving yards, and deserved a trip to the Pro Bowl for his production. Now in 2024, he's still the top dog, but he will have a lot more support and competition than he did the year prior.

Keenan Allen

There's no question that the most surprising move of the offseason came on a Thursday afternoon in March, when the Bears acquired Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Allen's arrival showed Chicago meant business when it came to fortifying their receiving corps. Entering Year 12, the 32-year-old is still one of the best route runners in the game and can find a way to get open in a phone booth. Allen totaled 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games last season for the Chargers. The injury concerns still follow him, as he's played an entire season just three times in his career and missed the final four games in 2023. Allen is also set to be a free agent next offseason and could be in Chicago for just one season. Still, his presence will benefit quarterback Caleb Williams and the rest of the receivers, even if he's playing elsewhere in 2025.

Rome Odunze

The Bears already had a dynamic duo set for 2024 with Moore and Allen, but that didn't stop Poles from continuing to add to the group. During the 2024 NFL Draft, he furiously chomped his chewing gum as the anticipation of landing Odunze at No. 9 overall was building. He was able to do just that, giving Chicago a trio this franchise has never seen before. Odunze is just entering his rookie year, but he's coming in as one of the more accomplished college football receivers in recent memory. His 2,785 yards in the last two years led the FBS, and his 2023 season, in which he caught 13 touchdowns, helped propel Washington to the College Football Championship. While he did so with Michael Penix Jr., it didn't take long for Odunze to befriend Williams prior to the draft. He gets to keep that bromance going, and the two are already establishing a connection together. Expectations for the 2024 season may not be the absolute highest, but he has time to grow before he really takes off.

Tyler Scott

Chicago has a big three that will command the attention of all the defensive backs they face this season, but what about the rest of the receivers? Scott is the next one up, returning after a subpar rookie campaign. The former Cincinnati Bearcat had just 17 receptions for 168 yards and no touchdowns. He was used sparingly, except for a couple of key games out of necessity, but failed to make a difference when given the opportunity. His dropped would-be touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons comes to mind. Scott failed to develop chemistry with former quarterback Justin Fields but now has a clean slate with Williams. He still has quickness and speed that can be utilized, and he should find favorable matchups as the WR4 on specific plays.

Velus Jones Jr.

At this point in his career, Jones is counted on more as a special teams returner than a wide receiver. The former third-round pick has squandered most of his opportunities on offense and is merely a gadget player who gets the ball on end-arounds. Jones had eight rushes for 51 yards, compared to four receptions for 20 yards in 2023, while he was on the field for less than 10% of the Bears total offensive snaps. Jones’ biggest contributions will come on kick returns—assuming he wins the job, of course. He could still have a role under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, but that remains to be seen.

Dante Pettis

An old friend returned to Halas Hall this spring when the Bears re-signed Pettis to a one-year deal. Pettis entered last season competing for a roster spot but was released during training camp with an injury designation and did not play at all during the 2023 season. Now he’s back and will challenge for one of the final receiver spots as well as punt returner. In 2022, Pettis was the Bears’ leading receiver in touchdowns with three and finished third in yards with 245. Barring injury, he won’t have nearly as big of a role on offense as he did back then if he makes the team, but he provides valuable depth and versatility.

DeAndre Carter

The Bears are looking for a receiver who can contribute on offense as well as on special teams, and they’re creating competition at the spot. DeAndre Carter is the latest player to fit that mold, signing just last month. Carter is a well-traveled veteran who has been a member of 10 different franchises since coming into the league in 2015—including the Bears back in 2020. Last season, Carter was with the Las Vegas Raiders and primarily contributed on special teams. He logged four catches for 39 yards, though he had a career year on offense in 2022 with the Los Angeles Chargers when he had 46 receptions for 538 yards and three touchdowns. Like Jones and Pettis, Carter will compete for one of the final roster spots and will be judged predominantly on his return abilities.

Nsimba Webster

Technically speaking, Nsimba Webster is the longest-tenured wide receiver on the Bears roster. He was called up to the active roster multiple times during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but spent all of last year on the practice squad. Webster’s familiarity with the organization can only get him so far, as he faces an uphill battle to make the roster, even with his experience on special teams. This might be Webster’s last chance in Chicago.

Collin Johnson

When you see the wide receivers line up during training camp, you may notice a rather large player who stands above the rest of the group—literally. That is Collin Johnson, the 6-foot-6 receiver who was drafted in 2020. Johnson came in with the Jacksonville Jaguars and bounced around before he was signed by the Bears midway through last season. He spent the majority of his time in Chicago on the practice squad but managed to play the final three games and recorded one catch for 11 yards. He has 30 receptions for 388 yards in his career. Johnson is a longshot to make the team, but his size gives him an advantage over others that the Bears could use to their advantage.

Freddie Swain

Freddie Swain signed with the Bears back in May and has familiarity with Waldron from their days together in Seattle. His best season came under Waldron in 2021, where he totaled 25 catches for 343 yards and four touchdowns. Swain has played in just six games since then, all coming in 2022. His connection with Waldron could give him a leg up in earning one of the final roster spots, but he’s likely just a camp body.

Peter LeBlanc

The Bears signed Peter LeBlanc as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. LeBlanc played at Louisiana and caught 30 passes for 468 yards and four touchdowns during his final season. Though he likely will not make the active roster, LeBlanc’s versatility makes him a prime candidate to land on the practice squad, where he could see game action later in the season.

John Jackson III

John Jackson III might be the most intriguing player at the backend of the position group. His numbers in college aren’t terribly impressive (he caught 35 passes for 267 yards while at Nevada in 2023), but he’s a close friend of Williams’ and made some nice plays during minicamp earlier this spring. It would be shocking to see him make the final 53-man roster, but his relationship and connection with Williams will be something to watch when camp begins.

Big question: Who reaches 1,000 yards first?

It's a race to 1,000 yards between Moore, Allen, and Odunze, and they are not shying away from the competition. We already know, on paper, that this is the most talented receiving trio in Bears history. All three players are coming off extremely productive seasons, whether it was in college or the NFL, and Chicago very well could have its first 1,000-yard duo in over 10 years. But who will emerge first—or on top—between these three playmakers?

Moore is the favorite, given his age, experience, and versatility on the offense. He can beat you on a screen or deep down on the sidelines. He's also extremely durable, having missed just two games during his six-year career. Allen could easily give him a run for his money, however.

The former Charger's inability to stay on the field is well documented, which plays a factor in how effective he will be in 2024. He is still a force when he's on the field, though, proving that in 2023 when he managed 108 receptions in just 13 games. Allen will likely be used early and often, especially to move the chains on third downs. He could easily approach the 1,000-yard mark earlier than people expect.

Then there is Odunze, the biggest wildcard of the trio. On any other team, he would be counted on as the WR2 or even WR1 right out of the gate. In Chicago, though, Odunze can be eased into the offense like Jaxon Smith-Njigba was in Seattle under Waldron. His route tree and football acumen might make it difficult for the Bears to wait, however. Perhaps he explodes onto the scene and takes advantage of more favorable matchups, with the focus being on Moore and Allen.

With this talented trio, asking the question of how good they can be feels like a waste. We know they're going to be a good group, even if not all of them succeed in 2024. We want to know who is going to be the best, and the fact that there is an argument for all three should have Bears fans jumping for joy. This is going to be a fun group to watch this year.

Bears training camp position previews

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 2024 training camp preview: Wide receivers