Updated look at the Bears’ wide receiver depth chart following Tajae Sharpe, Dante Pettis signings

The Chicago Bears received a boost to their wide receiver room Wednesday with the additions of Tajae Sharpe and Dante Pettis. Both signings continue general manager Ryan Poles’ trend of adding players in their mid-20s who have something to prove — and the talent to prove it.

The good news with the Sharpe and Pettis signings is that they aren’t just training camp bodies. Both receivers have a good chance of making the final roster and contributing on Sundays.

With that in mind, it’s time to reshuffle the deck and look at the Chicago Bears’ wide receiver depth chart.

WR1: Darnell Mooney

Mooney is the Bears’ clear WR1. He has a chance to emerge as a Terry McClaurin-type star in 2022. His work ethic, natural talent, and off-field connection with quarterback Justin Fields is setting him up for a breakout season this fall.

WR2: Byron Pringle

Pringle was Chicago’s highest-profile free-agent signing at wide receiver. He’s flashed massive upside when given an opportunity by the Kansas City Chiefs. With a starting job all but assured in 2022, the Bears are banking on Pringle emerging as a quality playmaker on offense.

WR3 (slot): Velus Jones Jr.

Jones was the Bears’ only investment at wide receiver in the 2022 NFL draft. He’s an older rookie (25) who has the most electric combination of traits on the Bears’ roster. Jones runs a legit 4.31 40-yard dash and is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. He’ll be a lot of fun to watch this season.

WR4: Tajae Sharpe

Sharpe is the most experienced of the Bears’ receivers. He possesses a nice blend of size and contested-catch ability, which will get him on the field on third downs and in the red zone. If Pringle fails to deliver, Sharpe could be the next man up.

WR5: Equanimeous St. Brown

St. Brown wins the “off the bus” award for the Bears’ receivers. He looks the part and is a good athlete, too, but injuries derailed his career in Green Bay. There’s a chance he begins training camp a bit higher than this on the depth chart because of his familiarity with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. Don’t be surprised if St. Brown gets a lot of reps and emerges as a top-three target in the fall.

WR6: Dante Pettis

Pettis is a true wildcard. He may be the most naturally gifted receiver aside from Mooney on the Bears’ roster, but it’s hard to ignore the poor habits that ended his San Francisco 49ers career prematurely. Is he another Anthony Miller? We’ll see. But at 26 years old, the ceiling is still extremely high for Pettis.

Roster Bubble: David Moore

Moore is another darkhorse who can emerge as a top target in 2022 if things break his way. Like Pettis, Moore’s career got off to a fast start with the Seattle Seahawks. He’s bounced around since his Seahawks days, but he’s another guy who can make big plays.

Roster Bubble: Dazz Newsome

Newsome was a victim of former coach Matt Nagy’s stubbornness in 2021. Despite the lost season, Newsome didn’t get enough playing time to know what he’ll bring to the Bears in 2022. However, he didn’t look all that explosive in his limited reps, and he’ll have a hard time beating out the top six guys on this list.

Training Camp Bodies

The remaining wide receivers on the Bears’ roster include Nsimba Webster, Isaiah Coulter, Chris Finke, Cyrus Holder, and Henry Litwin. Their best-case scenario is a spot on the practice squad.

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