Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson could steal another veteran free-agent target away from the Detroit Lions following last week’s 2026 NFL draft.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions are hosting former Pittsburgh Steelers veteran wide receiver Scotty Miller for an official visit on Tuesday, April 28, but he is also scheduled to try out for Johnson and the Bears next week if he leaves unsigned.
“Steelers free-agent wide receiver Scotty Miller is visiting today with the Detroit Lions,” Schefter wrote April 28 on X. “He also currently is scheduled to tryout next week for the Chicago Bears.”
Johnson’s Bears could still use another wide receiver for their 2026 roster. They signed veteran Kalif Raymond — a former Lion — in free agency and used a third-round pick on LSU’s Zavion Thomas in the 2026 draft, but more depth would help roster competition.
Miller would also add more speed to Johnson’s offense. He ran a 4.39-second 40 time during his 2019 pro day and recorded a speed of 20.84 miles per hour on his 39-yard touchdown catch against the Green Bay Packers in 2020’s NFC Championship Game. Like Thomas and Raymond, he would provide the Bears with more vertical threat.
Even better, the Bears could get another one up on the Lions if they lure away Miller.
Bears Need More Competition at WR After NFL Draft
The Bears might already have their top five wide receivers on their roster coming out of the 2026 draft, but Miller would still have appeal to them if he makes it to his tryout.
While the Bears have two clear starters in Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, it is uncertain who will fill out the rest of the receiving roles on their depth chart after they moved on from DJ Moore (traded), Devin Duverney and Olamide Zaccheaus in March.
Jahdae Walker, a 2025 UDFA signing, should have a shot at the No. 3 receiver role in 2026 after ending his rookie campaign with six catches for two touchdowns and four first-downs, but Raymond has 190 career receptions and nine years of NFL experience to give him a run for his money. Meanwhile, Thomas should also factor into the mix.
Outside of those three wideouts, though, the Bears are lacking an adequate amount of competition for the backup roles in their receiving rotation. The only other wideouts signed to their 90-man roster are JP Richardson (2025 UDFA) and Maurice Alexander, who each spent the 2025 season on the team’s practice squad without playing a snap.
The Bears are also reportedly signing undrafted rookie wide receivers Squirrel White (Florida State) and Omari Kelly (Michigan State), but the team has not yet announced either move. Even once Chicago does, it is still looking at a thin competition picture.
The question is, will they have a chance to properly consider Miller as an addition?
Which WRs Could Bears Target if Lions Sign Miller?
Miller would make an intriguing addition to the Bears’ depth competition at receiver, but he is not their end-all, be-all option if the Lions don’t let him out of the building.
The Bears will have options on the free-agent market if speed is their priority. They probably won’t have the interest (or money) to sign former Miami Dolphins veteran Tyreek Hill, who comes with a host of character concerns, but Zay Jones or Brandin Cooks could bring veteran speed and experience to the mix without a high price tag.
Curtis Samuel could also appeal to them. He has 355 career receptions and the speed desired to attack vertically, but he is also versatile enough to align in different spots. He might cost a little more than Miller or other veteran-minimum targets, but Chicago may be able to rope him in — if they want him — with an incentive-laden contract offer.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Ben Johnson Could Steal Veteran WR Target From Lions for Bears appeared first on HEAVY.