Pro Football Focus says Bears are a fit for player who could be traded before week 1

Pro Football Focus recently named 10 players who could be traded before week 1 one of the 2022 season and they think one of those players, specifically, could be a good fit for the Chicago Bears. PFF thinks New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is a candidate to be traded before the end of […]

Zach Ragan Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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Pro Football Focus recently named 10 players who could be traded before week 1 one of the 2022 season and they think one of those players, specifically, could be a good fit for the Chicago Bears.

PFF thinks New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is a candidate to be traded before the end of the preseason. The Bears, a team in desperate need of wide receiver help, would be an ideal fit.

From PFF:

Slayton burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2019 with eight touchdown receptions and a 15.4 yards per reception average, a top-25 mark at wide receiver. Since then, he has moved in the wrong direction on the depth chart and now finds himself behind a collection of guys including Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, rookie Wan’Dale Robinson and eventually Sterling Shepard when he returns from injury.

Slayton has one year remaining on an elevated salary of $2.54 million.

Chicago Bears
Aug 11, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) watches the game from the side line during the first half of a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Slayton, who is just 25 years old, showed a lot of potential during his first two years in the NFL with the Giants.

As a rookie, Slayton caught 48 passes for 740 yards and eight touchdowns. He followed that up with 50 receptions for 751 yards and three touchdowns during his second season with the Giants.

Last season, though, saw Slayton catch just 26 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Part of the reason for Slayton's drop in production was that he was dealing with an ankle injury and a hamstring injury last season — two injuries that can certainly hamper a wide receiver's production.

Slayton would make a lot of sense for the Bears given their need at wide receiver and his connection to the coaching staff.

Chicago wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert was Slayton's wide receivers coach in New York the last three seasons, so there's plenty of familiarity there.

Bears offensive coordinator Luke Gestsy is also likely somewhat familiar with Slayton from his time at Mississippi State in 2018. Slayton, who played at Auburn, caught four passes for 54 yards in the Tugers' 23-9 loss to Mississippi State in 2018.

This is a move Chicago should strongly consider making — especially if the Giants' asking price for Slayton isn't high.

Featured image via David Banks-USA TODAY Sports