Chicago Bears fans have been pleased with the team’s wide receiver room entering the 2026 season, and why not? Both Luther Burden and Rome Odunze have shown promise early in their careers, Jahdae Walker looks like he could be a contributor despite being a UDFA last year, and the Bears added Mr. Versatility, Kalif Raymond, in free agency.
Teams carry 5 or 6 wide receivers on their 53-man roster, and with only 4 names certain to be a part of the room, it wasn’t shocking that the Bears added a wide receiver in the NFL
Draft. It might have been surprising that it was round 3 and that the name was Zavion Thomas, but adding to the room seemed like a distinct possibility.
Keeping the room with 5 guys would not be surprising, being the Bears intend to run a lot of 12 and 13 personnel with their tight ends, but it’s still not impossible for the Bears to keep a 6th WR on the 53-man roster.
The Bears have a few in-house options like JP Rirchardson, but there’s no reason to think he or Maurice Alexander would hold down a WR6 spot for the season.
Would Ben Johnson add another name to the mix?
“We’re always looking to add competition,” Johnson stated in his press conference. “I think depth is going to be one of the things we’re on the lookout for over the course of the spring and training camp.”
Notably, the Bears brought in Scotty Miller for a workout during rookie minicamp.
Miller is a local guy (Barrington) who has played seven NFL seasons. He will be 29 this July. A former 6th-round pick, Miller notably had a big season for Tampa in 2020 when he had over 500 yards receiving.
Miller missed much of the 2021 season with turf toe and hasn’t been able to latch on and make major contributions since playing with Tampa, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh.
There’s no guarantee Miller is going to sign with Chicago, but, notably, the Bears are looking. Perhaps Johnson wants another body around this spring or summer, or they could be looking to add one more 53-man roster-caliber player to the roster.
Typically, NFL teams keep 25 offensive players on their 53-man roster. The Bears, almost certainly, will have 3 QBs, 3 RBs, 3 TEs, 10 OL, and 5 WRs. That’s 24. There is a spot for one more person on the 53. It could be someone like Stephen Carlson at tight end, it could be someone at running back, or it could be a 6th WR, and perhaps Scotty Miller fits that mold.
Barring injury, most of the offensive positions on the 53-man roster are set, but there is one more opening to be had at either running back, tight end, or wide receiver.
Certainly, this will be something to watch during training camp.
