Summary – The clear favorites for the 2016 Bears kick returner job are the two players who handled it last year, Marc Mariani and Deonte Thompson. Both players finished in the top six overall in yards per return, but didn’t have enough attempts to qualify for the NFL leader board.
Mariani showed more skill as a receiver with 22 catches for 300 yards and plenty of clutch 3rd down receptions, compared to just two catches for Thompson. Though the potential for Thompson to develop into a deep threat is something the Bears don’t have on the roster.
Omar Bolden was signed as a jack-of-all-trades, who can fill in at either returner job if needed and the Bears brought on two undrafted rookies who may be the fastest players on the Bears 90-man roster right now in Duncan and Keaton.
Mariani has the most overall value, but could be pushed for the back-up slot receiver position by rookie Daniel Braverman and at punt returner by Omar Bolden, whose spot as a valuable multi-position reserve is pretty much locked up.
Will the Bears devote two roster spots to return specialists in Mariani and Thompson? I’ll break down the wide receiver depth chart in detail later this offseason, but I think the Bears will end up keeping both players (and Bolden) on the roster. As for the two undrafted rookies, I think the better of the two will be kept on the practice squad and my bet is on Duncan.
By week one, I think the Bears return game will look the same as it did last season with Thompson as the primary kick returner and Mariani as the punt returner with both adding depth at wide receiver.