Cameron Meredith signs an offer sheet from the New Orleans Saints

Chicago Bears’ wide receiver Cameron Meredith did exactly what his general manager wanted him to do. Meredith went out and found a contract as a restricted free agent. According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the New Orleans Saints offered him a two-year deal worth a reported $9.6 million plus incentives, and $5.4 million is guaranteed.

The Bears and GM Ryan Pace have five days to match, and my guess is they will.

They’ll have plenty of cap space to absorb this contract, and the Bears were prepared to pay more than the original-round tender amount of $1.9 million. A two-year contract will allow Meredith to have some financial security, but also allow him to become an unrestricted free agent at only 27-years old.

The Saints wide receivers coach, Curtis Johnson, served in the same role in 2016 when Meredith had his breakout season. The former undrafted free agent from Illinois State, and nearby St. Joseph High School went for 66 receptions, 888 yards and 4 TDs that seaosn. The former college quarterback also threw a touchdown pass that year.

He missed all off the 2017 season with a torn ACL and a slight tear in his MCL, but early indications are that he’ll be ready to start working out for training camp.

A returning Meredith would fit in nicely with newcomers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, giving quarterback Mitchell Trubisky a much deeper receiving corps than a year ago. .