CBS Chicago is reporting the Chicago Bears should be among the teams competing for free agent WR Vincent Jackson:
"It’s going to be big," Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly told The McNeil and Spiegel Show. "There are a lot of teams that are going to be in on him. Everything I’ve heard suggests the Washington Redskins are going to be going big for a wide receiver. … The Bears, obviously, you gotta mention them. The reports are that they’re looking. Even the Bills, even though they signed Stevie Johnson, the word is that they are going to go for a receiver, too. We just don’t know how big. I think you throw the Vikings in the mix. ...
The Bears, despite having solid play from QB Jay Cutler for half the season, had only 18 touchdown passes all season -- good for a tie at 24th worst in the league. WR Johnny Knox led the team in receiving yards with 727, but he played only 14 games after sustaining a major injury against the Seattle Seahawks.
There was a general suspicion that the San Diego Chargers might try to franchise the dynamic wideout, but the Chargers decided to let Jackson test the free agent market.
According to Edholm, the decision to not franchise Jackson benefits mostly Jackson himself:
"With [Jackson] not being franchised, the price has definitely gone up. He’s definitely one of the big winners of not being tagged."
The NFL free agency period begins on Tuesday, March 13.
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