LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- When Bears receivers coach Mike Furrey commented this past spring that the team didn't need fourth-year wideout Anthony Miller, he was also speaking to his position group as a whole.
It's clear that Furrey meant what he said, as the Bears traded Miller in late July and recently waived receivers Javon Wims and Riley Ridley before the start of the regular season. It was part of a process in which the Bears rebuilt their receiving group around top targets Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney -- and they did so with an emphasis on speed.
The Bears added veteran receivers Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd earlier in the offseason, then signed Breshad Perriman on Monday after he was released by the Lions. In doing so, they created one of the fastest receiving groups in the NFL.
"Without a doubt, this is the fastest team I've even been a part of," said Perriman, who's playing for his seventh team in seven years.
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The Bears' emphasis on speed is no coincidence. In 2020, they averaged 4.3 yards after the catch, which ranked 30th in the NFL. Their offense lacked explosiveness, posting only 42 passing plays of 20 yards or more (25th in the league) and three of 40 yards or more, which tied for last.
Goodwin and Perriman have each averaged more than 16 yards per reception during their respective careers, while Byrd has averaged 12.0. Beyond that, the Bears believe their potential game-changing speed can impact the offense as a whole.
"Having speed does give us the ability to stretch the field and do different things when it comes to just kind of like plays," Robinson said.
As the Bears hope to get their tight ends more involved within the offense, they see their speed threats making a difference.
Veteran tight end Jimmy Graham, who once thrived in Saints offenses boasting plenty of speed, believes the Bears are poised to make big plays more often in 2021.
"A tight end’s best friend is speed on the outside," Graham said. "I think myself and Cole (Kmet) and Jesse (James) and our group will benefit a lot from that. When you’ve got speed on the outside, then everything underneath really opens up.
"I had a lot of speed on a lot of teams I’ve been on, and it truly helps you. Guys have to worry about getting blown by on the outside, so you’re mostly going to be one-on-one with linebackers and safeties. It’s a matchup league. It’s a player’s league, and I’m looking forward to having an opportunity to exploit some of those matchups."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.