It’s finally July, which means NFL training camp is upon us, and for the Chicago Bears, the festivities are starting earlier than usual as the rookies are reporting tomorrow. Not only will they be in attendance at the Hall of Fame game on August 1st, but they were selected for HBO’s Hard Knocks this past June. The excitement is in the air, and for the first time in a while, it seems justified.
It’s been an eventful offseason in Chicago. It started with the decision to retain head coach Matt Eberflus while revamping most of the offensive staff. Then came a major decision regarding quarterback and free agency. Finally, the draft happened. With only five draft picks and 13 undrafted free agents signed, there aren’t as many roster spots available as in years past. Still, there’s plenty to keep track of as we get closer to the start of training camp.
1. Wide receiver
The top three of this group are known, barring injury. DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze are a trio that any NFL quarterback would be lucky to have. For a No. 1 overall pick to find himself in a situation like this is nothing short of historic. Still, the depth of these three players is still up in the air.
Tyler Scott, Velus Jones Jr., DeAndre Carter, Dante Pettis and Freddy Swain are some of the names that will be battling for two or even three roster spots. Given his draft status in 2023, Scott seems like a safe bet to make the team, barring a disastrous camp and preseason. Jones, Carter and Pettis need to make their special teams value known. Jones Jr. was a third-round pick two years ago. Still, he hasn’t lived up to the expectations management had for him when they drafted him in the top 80. Pettis is back for another cup of tea with the team, but Carter seems like a better chance to make the team because of his value as a return specialist. Given the new rules, it’s not out of the question that Chicago could keep three of them, two of whom hold the majority of their value as returners. Swain is another interesting name that was added after the draft. Collin Johnson and Nsimba Webster are two other veterans who have already spent time on the practice squad. John Jackson III and Peter LeBlanc are more likely to fight for a spot on the practice squad as undrafted free agents.
2. Defensive plate
As for the receivers, the top three in this group are Gervon Dexter Sr., Andrew Billings and Zacch Pickens. General manager Ryan Poles has a lot of confidence in his two second-year defensive tackles. While both of them improve this year, the depth behind their top three names is much less reassuring. Fans can expect nine players to be retained on the defensive line between the two positions. If I had to bet in early July, depth on the edge seems much more likely than the zone where they keep five.
Assuming there is an extra roster spot, it will come down to two key players: Byron Cowart and undrafted free agent Kevin Randolph Jr. Cowart is the veteran, but Chicago was rumored to have liked Randolph Jr. a lot before the draft. If the game is even close, the advantage should go to the younger player with the most upside. Barring a surprise cut or trade, it seems unlikely that Michael Dwumfour or undrafted free agent DeShaun Mallory will be battling for that final roster spot.
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Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
3. Offensive line
Before Eberflus’ cryptic answer about right guard, one might have assumed that the Bears’ starting five was, in some way, set. While that may very well be the case, it appears that right guard and center are still somewhat unsettled. Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins and Darnell Wright are as good a fit as they come. A combination of Nate Davis, Coleman Shelton and Ryan Bates should round out the starting five, with the loser being the primary option off the bench.
No one should rule out adding another veteran, especially with names like Connor Williams still on the market. Assuming that doesn’t happen, the focus will shift to how they handle their tackle depth. Assuming third-round pick Kiran Amegadje is healthy, he’s a sure thing. That leaves two, if not three, spots open in depth.
A combination of Larry Borom, Matt Pryor, Jake Curhan, Aviante Collins and Ja’Tyre Carter should round out the depth chart. Names like Doug Kramer, Bill Murray, Theo Benedet and Jerome Carvin seem to be on the sidelines without a great camp. This is the best depth Chicago has had on its offensive line in a while, but you can never have enough starting options, which is why someone like Williams should always be considered at the right price.
4. Defensive end
Call it a hunch or an obvious guess, but something tells me the Bears aren’t done adding at the position. Three of the four (or five) spots on the depth chart are filled, but they still lack a veteran presence who can provide good rotation depth. Montez Sweat is the crown jewel of this group. Demarcus Walker is a quality veteran, but on a top-tier unit, he’s better suited as a depth piece. Fifth-round rookie Austin Booker offers plenty of intrigue, but should be viewed more as a developmental project than a Day 1 contributor.
Behind them are a few familiar names and an undrafted rookie. Reports from minicamp said Dominique Robinson, a third-year defender, looks much bigger. Despite an impressive opening game in his rookie season, the former Day 3 pick had one of the worst win rates in the league. Khalid Kareem was someone the Bears drafted during the waiver wire madness that followed the season being cut short before Week 1 last year. Daniel Hardy is an unproven veteran and Jamree Kromah comes from a smaller school, as an undrafted free agent. The upside isn’t there right now, but adding a quality veteran could help this group move on for another year until they can add more firepower.
5. Quarterback
Chicago took the mystery out of the QB1 question when they quickly named rookie Caleb Williams the unquestioned starting quarterback at the start of OTAs. I may be in the minority, but I appreciate that they didn’t get sucked into pointless mind games with their most valuable asset. He was the first overall pick for a reason, and the only way a player like that can improve is to get as many reps as possible.
Still, there are still some questions about his depth chart. First up: Can Tyson Bagent retain the QB2 title? Sure, he was impressive as a backup last year and went 2-2 as a starter, but that was under former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. Shane Waldon’s offense requires quarterbacks with quality arms. The best thing Bagent has going for him right now is Brett Rypien as his main competition. Sure, they signed Austin Reed as an undrafted free agent, but he looks more like a developmental piece than another Bagent-type story.
I wouldn’t completely rule out bringing in a more experienced veteran in the coming months. Ryan Tannehill is still sidelined, and if the Bears are serious about competing for a playoff spot in 2024, a more capable replacement could help them get there if Williams gets injured. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see if Bagent can continue to progress in a new offense.