Victor Cruz Reportedly Meeting with Bears in Free Agency

Former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is reportedly set to make a free-agent visit with the Chicago Bears next week.

On Friday, Kimberly Jones of NFL Network passed along word of the scheduled meeting Monday.

The market for Cruz's services has seemingly started to heat up in recent days.

He told Josina Anderson of ESPN on Thursday he's slated to meet with the Jacksonville Jaguars on May 23. Also on Thursday, Art Stapleton of The Record reported there's "mutual interest" between the veteran wideout and the Baltimore Ravens.

The Giants released Cruz in February after he spent seven years with the organization. He tallied 303 catches for 4,549 yards and 25 touchdowns across 70 games with the franchise, which signed him as an undrafted free agent out of UMass in 2010.

Most of that production came in a three-year span starting in 2011, though. He's failed to make anywhere near the same type of impact over the last trio of seasons. That includes sitting out the entire 2015 campaign because of calf problems.

Cruz told the Giants' official website after his release there was no doubt in his mind he could still make an impact moving forward.

"I think I have a lot of good football left ahead of me," he said. "I think there is still a lot of miles left on this body. I'll definitely be searching and looking for work as the time comes."

He did appear in 15 games last season, but didn't look like the same type of playmaker he was earlier in his career. His total of just 39 catches helps explain why free-agent interest was slow to develop.

That said, with the vast majority of free agency now in the rear-view mirror and the draft complete, teams are searching for ways to fill out the remaining voids on their roster. Cruz's past success puts him firmly on the radar in that regard.

Signing with Chicago would put him on a roster with a lot of receiver depth, but not much high-end talent. He'd join a group that features Cameron Meredith, Kevin White, Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright and former Giants teammate Rueben Randle, among others.