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NFL free agency, 2018: Biggest winners and losers from day one

By Peter Panacy

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins 38-30 at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins 38-30 at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 18: Allen Robinson #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a pass during warm ups before the game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 18: Allen Robinson #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a pass during warm ups before the game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Winner: Chicago Bears

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    • If there was one thing the Chicago Bears needed to do during the offseason and in NFL free agency, it was to provide second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky some offensive weapons. Simply handing the ball off to running back Jordan Howard 30 times a game won’t be the answer (see Week 6 of 2017).

    But, guess what? Chicago made some moves here.

    The biggest, of course, was landing the top wide receiver name on the free-agent market, former Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Allen Robinson. He signs a three-year, $42 million deal.

    Sure, Robinson is coming off an ACL tear. But he’s only a few years removed from a 1,400-yard campaign with Blake Bortles under center. He certainly can help Trubisky’s development, as FanSided’s Russell Baxter broke down:

    "The Chicago Bears’ aerial attack was in dire need of help following last season’s showing. Not one wide receiver on the team caught more than one touchdown pass in 2017. The addition of Robinson, who appears healthy after missing nearly all of this past season, gives new head coach Matt Nagy hope at the position and a big-play target for the club’s second-year quarterback."

    While less heralded, don’t overlook the Bears bringing on slot receiver Taylor Gabriel on a four-year deal.

    This might be a bit lengthy of a contract for a 27 year old, who had just 378 yards for the Atlanta Falcons last season. Yet Gabriel is the kind of player who can thrive in head coach Matt Nagy’s offense, much like he did for former Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan back in 2016.

    It’s weird to think the Bears offense might be somewhat prolific in 2018, but it could be.