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Rookie Expectations: Nick Orr

By Bill Zimmerman

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 02: Nick Orr #18 of the TCU Horned Frogs in the third quarter of playing against the Oklahoma Sooners during Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 02: Nick Orr #18 of the TCU Horned Frogs in the third quarter of playing against the Oklahoma Sooners during Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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What should fans expect from UDFA Nick Orr? We examine the rookie safety.

Nick Orr is one of the few UDFAs that basically could control his own destiny heading into camp with the Chicago Bears. Orr is a defensive back from TCU that will get a chance to earn a spot on the 53-man roster at safety. Many people expected the Bears to bring in a cheap, veteran option at safety to back up both Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos, but they haven’t done that to this point. If that doesn’t change, the Bears find themselves thin in terms of depth at safety and Orr could step up and earn a roster spot straight out of the preseason.

Jackson and Amos are slated as the starters, but behind them is Deiondre Hall, Deon Bush, and DeAndre Houston-Carson. DHC is almost exclusively a special teams player so he isn’t really competing for a safety spot, he’s competing for a special teams spot. One would expect the Bears to keep two safeties between Hall, Bush and Orr. Hall has been injured frequently and Bush has struggled to even earn time on the field. The opportunity is there for Orr to snag a spot on the team.

Best-Case Scenario

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Orr impresses the team in training camp and in the preseason. He proves that his coverage talents translate to the NFL level and he also shows that he has the ability to make tackles against the run and he’s versatile to back up both safety positions and play the slot. Orr’s play earns him a spot on the 53-man roster (most likely over Deon Bush). Orr starts the season playing special teams and being a rotational defensive back.

Injuries happen, as they always do, and Orr gets a chance to play and impresses filling in and starting in the Bears secondary. Orr cements himself as a legitimate defensive back and a solid depth piece behind Jackson and Amos. He doesn’t unseat either of them, but he enters 2019 as the main sub to both Jackson and Amos.

Worst-Case Scenario

Orr has hit-and-miss moments in camp. He makes some nice plays but gets exposed at times as well. Orr looks good playing in the second half of preseason games against similar competition but never impresses enough to get looks in the first half of football games. Bush and Hall keep ahead of Orr on the depth chart.

Because of the lack of safety depth, while Orr doesn’t make the 53-man roster, the Bears bring him back to the practice squad. Orr spends the entire season there and is tendered and has an opportunity to make the team in 2019.

Odds Are

Most likely, Orr will look solid in camp and preseason but won’t turn heads. He’ll show that he is versatile and can play in multiple defensive sets and that will at least catch Vic Fangio’s eye. Orr doesn’t unseat Bush or Hall but does earn himself a spot on the practice squad. After a couple of injuries hit the Bears’ secondary in midseason, Orr gets a shot and is called up to the 53-man roster. Orr plays well in his limited opportunities and keeps his spot on the active roster for the remainder of the year.

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