Receiver depth a big issue if Bears lose Alshon Jeffery
A plethora of injuries prevented Chicago Bears wide receivers from reaching their collective potential in 2015.
The top three - Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson - missed a combined 19 games, and first-round pick Kevin White missed the entire season with stress fractures in his lower left leg that required surgery last August.
The injury excess gave lesser-known players opportunities to step up and make contributions that were unexpected.
Wide receiver
Starters: Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal.
Backups: Marc Mariani, Josh Bellamy, Cameron Meredith, Deonte Thompson.
Injured reserve: Marquess Wilson, Jeffery.
Unrestricted free agents: Jeffery, Mariani.
Restricted free agent: Thompson.
Exclusive rights free agent: Bellamy.
Physically unable to perform: Kevin White.
Despite Jeffery's variety of nagging, soft-tissue injuries - calf, groin, hamstring and groin again - that began in training camp, he demonstrated his value in the nine games he played. He averaged 89.7 receiving yards per game, eighth best in the NFL.
Deciding what to do with the former Pro Bowler will be one of the most critical decisions the Bears make in the off-season.
Signing Jeffery to a long-term deal could cost the team upward of $10 million a year, which seems risky given his injury-marred 2015 season.
But, with so many other positions in need of improvement, the Bears can't allow their most productive offensive option and only go-to guy to leave.
Putting the nonexclusive franchise tag on Jeffery makes the most sense for the Bears, even though it would guarantee him more than $13 million in 2016.
The Bears would have the opportunity to match any outside offers for Jeffery or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if they let him get away.
NFL teams can use the franchise tag on one player any time from Feb. 16 to March 1, and outside teams can begin negotiating with the agents of unrestricted free agents on March 7 and sign them on March 9.
The Bears believe White can have an impact equal to or greater than what Jeffery has given them, but that remains to be seen.
With Jeffery and White on the field together, the wide receiver group is greatly improved. Without Jeffery, the group takes a step back, even if White plays like a first-round rookie.
Royal was a disappointment after getting a three-year, $15 million deal as a free agent.
In addition to missing seven games with injuries, Royal averaged a career-worst 6.4 yards on 37 catches and was not the effective underneath threat that was expected. His $4.5 million base salary for 2016 is guaranteed.
Wilson flashed big-play ability but did nothing to dispel his reputation as fragile. He averaged 16.6 yards on 28 catches but missed the final five games with a foot injury.
With the top three wideouts hobbled, Marc Mariani, previously just a return specialist, emerged as a reliable possession guy with career-best receiving numbers - 22 catches and 300 yards.
Josh Bellamy, after three years of knocking around the league mostly on practice squads, also had career numbers with 19 grabs for 224 yards.
Thompson was excellent on kickoff returns (29.2-yard average) after taking the job from Mariani and flashed as a deep threat with 2 catches for 81 yards.
Meredith, an undrafted rookie who played quarterback early in his career at Illinois State and St. Joseph High School in Westchester, caught 11 passes for 120 yards but will need to take another big step to keep his roster spot.
Draft need: Mild (if Jeffery returns), major if he doesn't.
Feeling a draft: After two years of exceptional draft classes, the WR talent pool has dried up a bit.
Six wideouts were taken in the first round last year and five in 2014, including Odell Beckham, Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Kelvin Benjamin and Brandin Cooks. This year, Mississippi's Laquon Treadwell is the only surefire first-rounder.
• Third in a series of Bears roster analysis. Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter@BobLeGere.