Editor's note: This marks the third piece in a series of positional outlooks for the Bears' roster entering this offseason. Click here to read the rest of them.
(670 The Score) Bears receiver Darnell Mooney's breakthrough rookie season was important for a few reasons.
Not only did Mooney prove himself as an NFL starter as a rookie, he gives the Bears some stability at a position that could see a major overhaul this offseason. Top receiver Allen Robinson's future is unclear as he prepares for free agency, while Anthony Miller and Javon Wims face a different kind of uncertainty.
Mooney inspired confidence for the Bears at receiver, but there are many more question marks at the position.
Who's back
Darnell Mooney, 23 -- A fifth-round pick out of Tulane last spring, Mooney had 61 catches for 631 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie.
Anthony Miller, 26 -- Miller had 49 catches for 485 yards and two scores in 2020, but those numbers were marred by his ejection for punching a Saints player in the Bears' loss in the wild-card round.
Riley Ridley, 24 -- A fourth-round pick in 2019, Ridley hasn't earned a role in the offense. He played in just five games in 2020 after working only five as a rookie, and he has been inactive in 22 contests across the past two years.
Reggie Davis, 25 -- Signed to a future/reserve contract this offseason, Davis has bounced around the league since 2017.
Thomas Ives, 23 -- A Hinsdale native and Colgate product, Ives has spent the last two seasons on the Bears' practice squad.
Rodney Adams, 26 -- Adams signed with the Bears last August and landed a future/reserve contract.
Jester Weah, 25 -- A Pitt product, Weah was signed by the Bears in January on a future/reserve deal.
Free agent
Allen Robinson, 27 -- Robinson has a combined 200 catches and 13 touchdowns as the Bears' leading receiver in the past two seasons. He'll be one of the top players available in free agency -- should Chicago let him get to the open market.
How they got here
In the 2018 offseason, the Bears completely overhauled their receiver group. They signed Robinson to a three-year, $42-million contract and drafted Miller in the second round. They also signed veteran Taylor Gabriel and selected Wims in the seventh round.
Robinson lived up to his billing and then some, with his production exceeding his team-friendly contract over the past three years in Chicago. But the other receivers didn't emerge as the team hoped. It wasn't until Mooney's arrival in 2020 that the Bears established a consistent second target behind Robinson.
The Bears and Robinson failed to reach a contract extension before the start of the 2020 regular season as both sides had hoped, and further negotiations broke down in late September. Robinson then strengthened his case for a lucrative deal with 102 catches for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns last season.
Mooney gave the Bears an element they desperately needed as a reliable second receiver. His 61 receptions were the most by a Bears rookie wide receiver in franchise history.
The futures of Miller and Wims are in doubt after they were each ejected for punching Saints cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson in different games this past season. As coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace have constantly preached culture for the Bears, it's hard to imagine those two returning.
Quote to note
"I do have a great fondness for this city and for the organization. But unfortunately, in a situation like this, this isn't the only thing that matters ... I personally feel like we had an opportunity to be able to get something done over the past 365 days."
-- Robinson on the state of his expiring contract with the Bears
What's ahead
The Bears have several options to consider as Robinson approaches free agency. They could reach a long-term deal with him, which seems to be the least likely outcome right now. They could tender the franchise tag or the transition tag, which would take Robinson's future out of his hands. He has already indicated he doesn't want to receive the franchise tag. Or the Bears could let him walk into free agency.
All of the Bears' plans at receiver revolve around where Robinson lands in March. If he's retained by Chicago -- whether that's through a long-term deal or a one-year tag -- the Bears can build the rest of their receiver room with complementary pieces while feeling confident in Robinson and Mooney.
But if the Bears lose Robinson this offseason, they're in big trouble at receiver. It would leave Pace and his front office scrambling.
Suddenly, Mooney would the top returning receiver and the team's No. 20 overall draft pick might need to be used on the position. The Bears would also need to sign two or even three new receivers -- or keep Miller and Wims while looking past their respective incidents.
The Bears need Robinson much more than he needs them, which gives him leverage in this situation. But if Chicago forces him back with a tag, it could get uncomfortable.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.