The 2024 free agency cycle will soon be upon us and will officially begin on March 13. The Chicago Bears could be in the market for a few potential starters in free agency before rounding out the rest of the roster in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The wide receiver position is one of the strongest groups on the market this year headlined by Mike Evans, Tee Higgins, and Michael Pittman Jr. The Bears are sure to take advantage of the rich market with only four receivers under contract in 2024.

Outside of Evans, Higgins, and Pittman Jr., here are some of the other top names the Bears could look into signing in free agency.

Calvin Ridley

The Jacksonville Jaguars top weapon in 2023 could once again be on the move after playing only one season in Duval County. Calvin Ridley recorded 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023 after coming back from a lengthy suspension. Ridley proved he's still a top player at the position and could demand a high price on the open market.

According to our AtoZ cap experts, Ridley is projected to land a massive 3 year, $60 million contract if he hits free agency. Ridley, however, is listed as having a high likelihood of being hit with a franchise tag by the Jaguars and might not even make it to free agency. Here's how our experts broke down his potential market:

"In his last two full seasons, Ridley has amassed 269 targets, 166 catches, 2,490 yards and 17 touchdowns. Those totals would compare favorably with the two years preceding Terry McLaurin’s long-term extension with Washington following the 2021 season. McLaurin totaled 261 targets, 170 catches, 2,246 yards and nine touchdowns." – AtoZ Sports

Ridley would be an incredible but highly priced signing for the Bears. While he would be a phenomenal number two weapon alongside wide receiver DJ Moore, Ridley is likely to land a top deal as another team's top number one threat if he hits the market.

Curtis Samuel

If the Bears are looking for a cheaper alternative to pair with Moore at the wide receiver position, the front office shouldn’t look any further than Curtis Samuel. Samuel spent the last three seasons with the Washington Commanders but started his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers.

Samuel has some prior connections operating as Moore's complement in the passing game after spending three seasons together in Carolina. Samuel has posted 60+ receptions, 600+ yards and 4+ touchdowns in each of the last two seasons while playing behind Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson (in 2022 and 2023).

He is everything the Bears should be looking for in an ideal number two option at the position. If the Bears add Samuel in free agency, it also wouldn't hurt to add another wide receiver through the draft as well. He also will be a cheaper option for Chicago with Spotrac expecting him to land a 3 year, $34.6 million contract in free agency.

Tyler Boyd

Tyler Boyd is another candidate the Bears could look into with experience being a number two option in the passing game. The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver has been forced to carve out his own role the past few years playing behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In Chicago, he could have a more sizable role to work with.

Despite that fact, Boyd finished the 2023 season with 67 receptions for 667 yards and touchdowns. He has also hauled in 50+ receptions in seven of his eight seasons. For comparison, Moore is the only Bears wide receiver that reached that mark in 2023.

Our AtoZ Sports cap experts project Boyd will land a very team-friendly 2 year, $16.5 million contract as a free agent. Boyd is still a sure-handed wide receiver heading into his ninth career season and could still give the Bears a few more reliable years.

DJ Chark

The last name who should be on the Bears' radar as a second wide receiver should be DJ Chark. Chark had a very inconspicuous 2023 season with the Carolina Panthers after signing a 1 year, $5 million contract last free agency. He finished his lone season with the Panthers recording 35 receptions for 525 yards and had five touchdowns.

He's still a very serviceable player and will likely be looking to land with a new team next season. Chark still has the speed to be a downfield threat in the passing game and could give the Bears offense an added dimension to work with.

Chark could also rejoin his 2023 offensive coordinator Thomas Brown who was hired on head coach Matt Eberflus' coaching staff as the passing game coordinator for the Bears. Maybe a change in scenery could work wonders for the both of them.

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