Chicago Bears: Plaxico Burress and the Top 5 Free Agent WR Targets for GM Angelo

With a July 21st target date just one week away, optimistic NFL fans around the country are beginning to dream of free agency, displaying just how desperate we truly are for anything football related.

As we continue to suffer through WNBA, women's soccer and cycling highlights on SportsCenter, any sign of positive news from the NFL labor talks is nearly cause for celebration.

The Chicago Bears were major players in the free-agency market in 2010, signing Julius Peppers to a six-year, $75 million deal on the first day of the free-agency signing period.

Will they make a splash in 2011?  

Let's take a look at the top five free agents Jerry Angelo should be targeting, assuming we have a free-agency period in 2011. 

5. Braylon Edwards, New York Jets

Braylon Edwards caught 53 passes for 904 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010 for the New York Jets.

Decent numbers for the No. 5 receiver on our list but a far cry from the numbers he put up in 2007 while playing in Cleveland—where he was briefly considered to be an elite wide out.

The Bears are in desperate need of a big, possession type wide receiver, the only question is—can Edwards hang on to enough passes to extend those possessions?

4. Steve Smith, New York Giants

Steve Smith had a Pro Bowl season in 2009 and was well on his way to another good year in 2010, before he suffered a partially torn pectoral muscle that caused him to miss four games.

In his first game back, Smith suffered a season-ending knee injury that resulted in offseason microfracture surgery.

Although the surgery continues to cast doubt on Smith's availability for the beginning of the 2011 season, he would potentially be a huge upgrade to the Bears' current receiving corps by midseason. 

3. Santonio Holmes, New York Jets

Santonio Holmes caught 52 balls for 746 yards and six touchdowns in only 12 games last season for the New York Jets.

Holmes is a world class athlete, but at only 5'11", he's not exactly an ideal fit for a Bears' team desperately seeking a big wide receiver.

That said, Holmes would step in and immediately become Jay Cutler's No. 1 target in 2011.

2. Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings

Similar to Steve Smith, Sidney Rice was a Pro Bowl receiver in 2009 but missed half of last season as a result of a hip injury he suffered in the 2010 NFC Championship Game.

At 6'4", Rice would be a perfect fit on the Bears and could significantly alter the landscape of the NFC North next season.

When healthy, Rice has showcased an ability to make incredibly acrobatic catches in traffic due to his elite athleticism.   

1. Plaxico Burress, Free Agent

Plaxico Burress has made it clear that the Bears are among his top three destinations in 2011.

It's hard to say how good Burress will be as he approaches 34 years old, but it's a young 34 in terms of NFL mileage when you consider the fact that he's only played the equivalent of eight total NFL seasons.

Standing 6'5" and 232 lbs, Burress is the ideal red-zone target, racking up 22 touchdowns in 31 games between 2006 and 2007.

If Jerry Angelo is willing to take the risk, Burress could be the final piece that gets the Bears back to the Super Bowl in 2012.