Since Aaron Rodgers and his former tight end Robert Tonyan will most likely never play together on the same team, it’s nice to get a parting gift on the way out of Green Bay. Rogers is helping Tonyan go home and play for the team he grew up watching as Aaron owns the Chicago Bears and set him up with a one year deal. Tonyan, a local Chicago guy growing up in McHenry, Illinois, is another free agent the Bears are bringing home. Suddenly the Bears roster is piling up with guys that have roots in the Windy City. Signing Tonyan gives the Bears another weapon for their quarterback, Justin Fields. Tonyan, a bigger target, could be very valuable in the red zone. Tonyan also reunites with his former coach in Green Bay: Luke Getsy, the Bears offensive coordinator.

Robert Tonyan is 28 years old and was another undrafted free agent coming out of Indiana State University. After 5 seasons at Indiana State, Tonyan was number two all-time in receiving stats behind only Sam Logan with 150 receptions and 2,047 yards. He also set the record for most touchdowns in one season at Indiana State with ten. In 2017, Tonyan signed with the Detroit Lions & became only the tenth player ever at Indiana State to make it to the NFL. Tonyan would never see the field in Detroit as the furthest he came was the practice squad. In 2018, Tonyan moved on from the Lions to the Packers and actually got on the field. It was not until Tonyan’s third season in 2020, when he became your fantasy pick up after catching 52 balls for 586 yards for 11 touchdowns. In 2018-19, Tonyan only had 14 catches for 177 yards with two touchdowns. In 2021, Tonyan would only play in 8 games for the Packers as he tore his ACL and was out the rest of the season. Tonyan would only catch 18 balls for 204 yards with two touchdowns in those 8 games he did play. Last year, Tonyan rebounded and caught 52 passes for 470 yards with 2 touchdown grabs.

Robert Tonyan reminds me of the former Bear they over paid for a few seasons back, Jimmy Grahamcracker. Tonyan is a 6’5″ target with great hands but can’t shake or break a tackler for extra yards. Tonyan does not do run blocking or pass very good, just like the graham cracker dust. Tonyan is not breaking the bank like Graham and is younger than him. With Tonyan on the field at the same time as Cole Kmet, an emerging talent at the tight end position who had a break out season last year, could make the Bears offense very interesting. Tonyan can catch the ball. If you can get the ball near him he has gobbled up 80% of his passes. Tonyan could be targeted on third down plays and the red zone could be a valuable piece to this Bears offense who suddenly have bullets in the chamber. With Tonyan on board now, the Bears have Kmet, Jack Sanborn, and T.J Edwards: all guys who grew up around Chicago rooting for the Bears when they were younger. I think having Luke Getsy on the coaching staff and calling the offensive plays knowing Tonyan could only benefit both parties. This is a low budget move by the Bears and only a one year deal so if it goes bad, the team can cut ties with the former Packer. I think Tonyan can help Justin Fields’ short passing game with his good hands. Fields has not established that he can beat a team with the short passing game. Tonyan can be used on deeper routes as we’ve seen him do with Aaron Rogers before. I like having depth on the roster as well just in case Kmet does get injured & misses some time. At least you have another guy that can catch the ball at that position.