To get us through the summer dead period, we have been taking a look at what expectations should be for each player on the Bears' roster.

So far we've covered the quarterbacks and runningbacks, and now we're on to the receivers. This group is much different than it was at the start of the 2022 season thanks to the additions of DJ Moore, Chase Claypool, and Tyler Scott. 

Let's take a look at what each player's expectations should be when camp kicks off.

D.J. Moore

The expectation for Moore is to be one of the best receivers in the league and a security blanket for Justin Fields. Those are high expectations, but the Bears gave up the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for Moore (and picks). 

Moore has managed to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards on three separate occasions, all while dealing with horrendous QB play. Fields is an improvement over what Moore is used to, so the expectation is that he has his best season yet. As the best receiver on the team, I'll be looking for Moore to fill that leadership role and help the younger receivers develop. 

Chase Claypool

The Bears had an anemic passing attack in 2022, so it’s not surprising that Claypool contributed almost nothing. Still, the Bears gave up draft capital to land the receiver, so hopefully a bounceback is in order for 2023. 

I expect Claypool to come into camp as a clear No. 2 option behind Moore. Claypool should be okay with this considering Moore will likely get most of the defense's attention. The expectation is that Claypool settles into a complimentary role and has a solid season behind Moore. 

Darnell Mooney

I expect Mooney to work as hard as he’s ever worked this summer. The talented receiver is entering a contract year and will want to show out to potential suitors. 

The expectation is that Mooney impresses in camp and gets an extended run with the first team. I'm not sure if Mooney will be back in Chicago after the season, so I expect him to leave it all on the field this year. 

Equanimeous St. Brown

The expectations for St. Brown are the same as they always are, which is to come in and be a reliable depth option. St. Brown tied his career-high in 2022 with 21 receptions, and it’s reasonable to think he could approach that number again. St. Brown is the tallest receiver on the team, so he can offer a red zone threat that is not found elsewhere on the roster besides Claypool. This should be enough for him to secure a spot. 

Tyler Scott

The expectation for Scott is to be prepared to step into a larger role. Scott, at 5’11”, 185 pounds, Scott is a slightly bigger version of Mooney but is just as quick and precise with his routes. 

I don't expect Scott to be an immediate starter, but I do expect his workload to slowly get larger as the year goes on. The performance of Scott could directly correlate with whether or not the Bears re-sign Mooney. 

Velus Jones Jr.

I expect Jones to do anything he can to show he belongs on the roster. Jones is a player that I could easily see getting cut this summer. 

While technically a receiver, Jones had more rush attempts than catches as a rookie. Jones was also the primary kick returner for the team and he did show some promise there. Jones' longest return was for 63 yards and he averaged 27.6 yards per return which is certainly serviceable. 

Will that be enough to give Jones an edge? He needs to show more as a receiver, in my opinion.

Dante Pettis

The expectation for Pettis is to compete against Jones and others for the final receiver spot. If the season started tomorrow, I’d give Pettis the job. However, a lot could happen between now and Week 1. 

Pettis is a better receiver than Jones and can also contribute in the return game. A couple of nice catches in camp and some good returns this preseason could be enough to keep Pettis around.

The rest

Nsimba Webster, Daurice Fountain, Aron Cruickshank, Thyrick Pitts, and Joe Reed are the remaining receivers on the roster. I expect maybe two of these guys to end up on the practice in Chicago while the rest go elsewhere. 

The expectation for all of these players should be to either impress Chicago enough to earn a practice squad spot or to catch another team's eye. 

Featured image via © Kamil Krzaczynski | 2023 Mar 16