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Chicago Bears Q&A: Will Devin Hester get the call to the Hall of Fame this year? Is WR Keenan Allen a possible target?

Chicago Tribune 2/8/2023 Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields leaves the field after the game Jan. 2, 2022, at Soldier Field. The Bears defeated the Giants 29-3.

The Super Bowl is four days away, after which a momentous Chicago Bears offseason can begin in earnest. But first comes Thursday’s news of whether Devin Hester has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame — a question that kicks off Brad Biggs’ weekly Bears mailbag.

Will Devin Hester get his due recognition in the Hall of Fame this year? — Terrence, Homewood

I firmly believe it’s a matter of when, not if, for Hester, the most electric return specialist in NFL history. He was a finalist in his first year of eligibility in 2022, and that bodes very well that he will be outfitted in a gold jacket before long.

One issue Hester dealt with last February is it has become increasingly difficult for players to be voted in during their first year. There have been only 19 first-ballot inductees over the last 11 years, a list that includes Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson, Brian Urlacher, Ray Lewis and Randy Moss. It appears players in their first year of eligibility are being held to a higher standard. That’s no longer an obstacle for Hester.

Now he has to break through as the first return specialist selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which has inducted 362 members. Hester finished his career with 19 return touchdowns, all but one with the Bears. His 14 punt return scores are the most in NFL history. Add the missed field goal return against the New York Giants in 2006, and he scored 20 touchdowns on special teams with his team going 14-4 in those games (he twice had multiple return touchdowns).

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields watches the Bulls play the Toronto Raptors at the United Center, Jan. 26, 2022.

He ranks third all time with 3,696 punt return yards behind Brian Mitchell and Dave Meggett. Hester was a three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection. His impact on the Bears was immense. They led the NFL in average starting field position for five consecutive seasons after he arrived. There are 30 Hall of Famers who made their primary contributions with the Bears. Hester will become No. 31 — at some point.

The debate for voters is weighing Hester’s impact against other finalists who were full-time players on offense or defense. Hester had 610 career returns (315 punts and 295 kickoffs) in 156 games. That’s an average of a little more than 3.9 returns per game and part of the equation for voters when considering his impact.

The 2023 Hall of Fame class will be announced Thursday during the NFL Honors program (8 p.m., NFL Network). I don’t know if Hester’s name will be called this year. I do know he couldn’t have a better and more meticulously prepared presenter than my former colleague Dan Pompei. I believe Hester’s moment will come soon — let’s say before the Bears call Arlington Heights home.

Do you expect the Bears to pursue Keenan Allen or Gerald Everett (two likely cuts from the Chargers)? — @lavine_x_fields

The Bears might have a better chance of landing a proven, capable wide receiver if a veteran is released than by combing the watered-down list of available free agents. Allen would have no shortage of suitors if the Chargers release him to create badly needed salary-cap room. To me, Allen is more intriguing than the tight end Everett because the Bears are excited about the growth and development opportunities for Cole Kmet, who is a good bet to land a contract extension this offseason.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields takes part in the "Shoot the Puck" contest during intermission of a game between the Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken at the United Center, April 7, 2022.

© Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields takes part in the "Shoot the Puck" contest during intermission of a game between the Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken at the United Center, April 7, 2022.

The Chargers are slammed up against the cap and will have to make some difficult decisions. They’re currently projected to be more than $20 million over the cap, and releasing Allen before June 1 would create nearly $15 million in space. Designating him as a post-June 1 cut would free up $17.5 million. It’s possible the Chargers could find a trade partner for Allen, and Bears general manager Ryan Poles already worked with them to deal edge rusher Khalil Mack last March.

Bears quarterback Justin Fields gives a "thumbs up" while warming up for a game against the Vikings at Soldier Field on Dec. 20, 2021.

If you’re seeking the perfect fit as the Bears look to improve their wide receiver room, Allen isn’t that. I say that because he turns 31 in April, making him two months younger than DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals, another wide receiver rumored to be available this offseason. In an ideal world, the Bears would acquire a No. 1 wide receiver entering his prime like the Philadelphia Eagles did last offseason when they traded with the Tennessee Titans for A.J. Brown. Such a scenario might not present itself and would, of course, require a ton of draft capital.

Allen missed seven games with a hamstring injury this past season but otherwise has been pretty durable, missing a total of three games from 2017 through 2021. Over the final nine games of 2022, he was targeted 83 times and caught 60 passes for 675 yards (11.25 per reception) and four touchdowns. Allen had at least 97 receptions in each of the five previous seasons and eclipsed 1,100 yards four times with a career-best 1,393 in 2017. He’s a precise route runner who instantly would become the Bears’ No. 1 receiver, but he’s also a stopgap measure when you talk about building the offense.

I don’t believe it’s a given the Chargers will part ways with Allen, but they will have to make some significant roster moves and it’s a real possibility.

“Good players make money,” Chargers GM Tom Telesco said at his end-of-season news conference. “I’d rather have a lot of good players on a roster than a lot of cap space.”

That makes a lot of sense, and I’m sure the Bears would prefer to trade a whole lot of cap space for proven playmakers. I can see both sides of this. The Bears absolutely need to upgrade at the position and help quarterback Justin Fields. They also want to grow with draft picks and players entering their prime years. If I had to choose between Allen and Hopkins, I’d probably go with Allen, especially if the options were trading for Hopkins or pursuing Allen as a free agent. If Allen becomes available, he will have multiple suitors.

Quarterback Justin Fields speaks during a news conference at Chicago Bears training camp, Aug. 3, 2022, at Halas Hall

Which position group should the Bears address first in free agency? — @rich780

There’s no need to overcomplicate this. The Bears have to be better up front on both sides of the ball. That means investing in the lines. Take your pick — offense or defense. I believe Ryan Poles will make a concerted effort to acquire talent on both lines in free agency. Do the Bears have other needs? No doubt. Will they consider players at other positions? Surely. Football is a game won and lost at the line of scrimmage, and the Bears were beaten — sometimes badly — in the trenches in 2022. That’s where the offseason plan has to begin.

In making the decision whether or not to trade down with a particular team (if the trade nets the Bears picks in the 2024 draft), how much should Ryan Poles consider how that trade partner might finish in 2024? The Raiders thought the Bears wouldn’t be good in 2018 in making the Khalil Mack trade. — @canuckboy670am

This is a nuanced question and certainly a factor Poles needs to consider. It’s difficult to gauge in March or April how a team will do next season. It’s hard to do it midseason too. The Bears didn’t believe they would be sending the Pittsburgh Steelers the first pick of Round 2 in exchange for wide receiver Chase Claypool. I’m sure the Bears will look closely at expectations for any team offering future draft capital (2024 or 2025) and attempt to assess what range those picks might fall in.

Are the Bears happy with the backs they have or will they draft a bruiser who can block and wear down a defense in the mold of Jerome Bettis? — @pkmcnulty

The Bears need to either re-sign David Montgomery, sign a running back in free agency or draft one. My guess is they will attempt to find a multidimensional running back who is skilled at catching the ball out of the backfield. I doubt they will be a player for Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs, both of whom seem like good bets to return to their current teams. The Bears would be better served with a running back with a broad skill set rather than a “bruiser.” I think Khalil Herbert can be effective enough in that role.

What are realistic expectations this year? Anything short of the playoffs would be a disappointment in my opinion ... and not a No. 7 seed backing their way into the postseason. — @atown2956

The Bears have a ton of moves to make before we can evaluate the roster and schedule and offer any informed guesses about the 2023 season. It sounds like you have grand expectations for free agency and the draft. The Bears have to be worlds better on defense and much better on offense to compete for a division title or playoff berth.

Bears quarterback Justin Fields and teammates take the field for a preseason game on Aug. 13, 2022, against the Chiefs at Soldier Field.

There is plenty of history of worst-to-first turnarounds in the NFL. One complicating factor, a little more than a month before the start of the new league year and free agency, is this roster lacks difference makers. The Bears don’t look anything like the teams you’ll see Sunday in Super Bowl LVII. Right now I think getting closer to .500 would be a realistic goal, but we have to see what moves are in store.

Do you think the Bears are prioritizing linebacker in free agency? — @just_acy

It’s possible, but instinct tells me their preference would be to draft and develop a player who can fill the hole at weak-side linebacker. It wouldn’t surprise me if they signed a linebacker and looked to draft one, putting them in position to compete for the starting role. In this scenario, I don’t know that they would “prioritize” signing a linebacker as much as they would seek a player with the skill set that might be a decent fit as a placeholder. Ultimately, I think Matt Eberflus believes the Bears can draft and develop a player at that spot.

How would you rate the top 3 college WR targets in the draft for the Bears? Heard you on the Score talking about that kid from Houston, who sounds elusive and has produced. I just don’t think you take a chance on him due to size/durability issues. — @panotopalis

Tank Dell, the Houston wide receiver, is really interesting because he was electric at the Senior Bowl and difficult for any defensive back to mirror in coverage. But Dell measured 5-foot-10, 163 pounds, and that kind of frame can be problematic in the NFL. I have seen some compare him to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who is 6 feet, 170 pounds. But Dell is even smaller, so any team that falls in love with his playmaking ability probably wouldn’t pull the trigger on him before Day 2. He can absolutely motor though.

Picking only three wide receivers is a little challenging. It’s not as deep of a class as we have seen the last several years, but there is talent. In no particular order, TCU’s Quentin Johnston, USC’s Jordan Addison and Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be my top three. All have different elements of their game that are intriguing. None looks like an option for the Bears right now at No. 1 or No. 54 — their first two picks. A trade down that nets them more picks could change that.

Bears quarterback Justin Fields warms up to face the 49ers in the rain onSept. 11, 2022, at Soldier Field.

I know that the Bears have a great deal of cap space to play with this offseason. But it was always my understanding that more cap space can always be made available in the NFL if you really want to do it and that it was the cash budget that is often what determines who you can sign and who you can’t. Do you think that could be a limiting factor for the Bears this offseason? — Tom S., Chicago

Bears quarterback Justin Fields and teammates celebrate the Week 1 win by sliding into the end zone puddles in the rain at Soldier Field on Sept. 11, 2022.

Excellent observation. While cap figures for each team are readily available, what’s never known is the cash budget each team is operating with during a given league year. With nearly $100 million in available cap space for 2023, Ryan Poles has more room than he can realistically use, especially when you consider it’s not expected to be a banner year for free agents.

I would expect Poles to have enough of a cash budget to accomplish pretty much anything he wants to do. The Bears have gone light the last two years and have not shied away from throwing around big money under George McCaskey. They went heavy in free agency in 2018 and then made the biggest move of that year by trading for and extending the contract of outside linebacker Khalil Mack. My guess is the Mack move might have taken them over their cash budget for that season, but presented with a special circumstance, ownership signed off on what was the largest contract for a defensive player in league history at the time.

Why shouldn’t the Bears draft the best QB available? Someone that complements Justin Fields. Why not have two great QBs? Now that the season is longer, how many QBs make it through the whole season? It is obviously the most important position. — Spencer, Warrenville

No argument from me that quarterback is the most important position. But I can’t agree with anything else. It would be a fantastic problem if the Bears were suddenly to have two great quarterbacks. Imagine the possibilities for the future. Currently, I don’t think you can say the Bears have one great quarterback. Fields needs to make some significant improvements, and the team has been pretty straightforward saying as much.

In order for Fields to do that, the Bears need to be better around the quarterback — and better on defense. Using the first pick on a quarterback would not improve the offensive line, wide receivers or a porous defense. The Bears need to see if a better-supported Fields can become their quarterback of the future before they consider choosing another one in the first round.

What is your Super Bowl pick? — Paul, Wonder Lake

Bears quarterback Justin Fields eludes the 49ers defense before throwing a touchdown pass in the third quarter of a game at Soldier Field on Sept. 11, 2022.

I hope the final football game of the season is one for the ages. The Chiefs have the best player in the game in Patrick Mahomes, and you have to imagine his ankle is a little bit better with an extra week of rest. Mahomes is an easy MVP selection this season, especially when you consider what he accomplished after the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill.

The Eagles have the advantage in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They have the deepest and probably best defensive line in the league, and that could create some real problems for Kansas City. I don’t know if the Chiefs will be able to find success running the ball.

The Eagles have a wealth of talent on the outside for quarterback Jalen Hurts, and the Chiefs are better up front on defense than in the secondary. Based on experience, you have to give Andy Reid and the Kansas City coaching staff the advantage.

Eagles 31, Chiefs 27.

Bears quarterback Justin Fields throws an incomplete pass during the third quarter of the Week 4 against the Giants on Oct. 12, 2022, at MetLife Stadium.

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