The draft is the last opportunity the team has to add talent to the roster. If you're cutting $22m in payroll, you should have plenty of resources to get comparable production. As I was saying on my show last month, Bowe is getting very sloppy in his route running. I think that is the primary cause for his decline in production. The offense has been getting pretty good this last quarter of the season even without Bowe contributing. The whole point of trading Bowe is to at least get a comparable contribution at a fraction of the price. This is the same concept being applied as the whole Geno Smith debate last year... except, instead of the #1 overall pick, we're talking about a $12.5m cap hit. There are better ways to utilize those resources. You can get more production for that money considering Bowe has produced in the bottom third of players at his position. The reason people still like him is why he's still a good trade candidate. He still has value and teams will offer good value for him banking on a fluke down year instead of a post-contract downward trend.
Good route running gets separation. Donnie Avery is plenty fast and made enough plays this year for defenses to implement a "honest" game plan. McCluster demands enough attention in the slot for Bowe to benefit from the effects you think a guy like Welker would offer. The problem isn't the pieces around Bowe, it IS Bowe. I'd bet you couldn't name the guys who surround Josh Gordon, Calvin Johnson, or Andre Johnson. Doubt many people could name the #2 across from Fitzgerald or DeSean Jackson. The Bears have a great 1-2 punch on the outside in Jeffrey and Marshall, but they don't have an elite offense, even though they have a gunslinger at QB like Cutler. Bowe has had productive years with miserable QBs and nobody else on offense with whom to help take coverage away.
The problem isn't the other players around Bowe. The problem is Bowe's lack of commitment to the team and his poor attention to detail. This offense requires things from its receivers that Bowe just doesn't think is all that important. He runs sloppy routes and doesn't do much on the back end to compete for the football. Even when it hits him dead in the hands, he still drops more than he should. Bowe is good for 1 or 2 GOOD catches per game. You could get that from some random, average, replacement level WR who produces near the league average and only makes $3 or $4mil per year instead of $12.5m.
Why pay $12 for name brand when you can pay $2 for the store brand that does the same exact thing? It's all about utilization of resources and tying up $12.5m in a WR who isn't even performing at league average in an offensive system that is all about throwing the ball is a poor way to spend money... ESPECIALLY for a team who is currently sitting right at the salary cap before we even talk about re-signing or franchising Branden Albert.