When the Chicago Bears signed veteran wide receiver Marquise Goodwin during the 2021 offseason, the motive was adding speed to the Bears’ offense. A unit that lacked any sort of spark in 2020 enters 2021 with the goal of playing faster on offense.
Wide receivers Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney are expected to start, providing Goodwin with the opportunity to play in the slot and take the top off defenses. After opting out in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, the goal for Goodwin in 2021 is to produce at a high level, doing whatever is needed to help the Bears win.
From a production standpoint, Goodwin has proven that when given opportunities, he can take advantage of them. With 40 career starts, averaging 16.6 yards per reception, Goodwin is no stranger to making big plays in the vertical passing game.
“I see in this offense, a lot of opportunity,” Goodwin said via the Bears official Twitter account. “Got a lot of experience on this team. This offense, a lot of guys who have played a lot of ball.”
The experience that Goodwin is alluding to includes veterans like Robinson and veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, two unquestioned leaders on the Bears offense.
Throughout Goodwin’s career, he’s consistently been a player that has proven to be an effective option in any offense. Besides Goodwin, Chicago also signed veteran wide receiver Damiere Byrd this offseason, further adding speed to the offense, a positive from Goodwin’s perspective.
“We got a lot of fast guys, we got a lot of speed on the team,” Goodwin said. “I’m just glad to just still be the fastest in the league.”
As the Bears continue to prepare for the 2021 season, Goodwin is ready to be a major part of an offense that will present multiple opportunities for playmakers, especially deep balls that Dalton has been able to consistently hit throughout training camp, something that bodes well for Chicago’s offense.