How would you rank the Chicago Bears top 90 players?
As we approach training camp it is a good time to take a hard look at the entire roster. The Chicago Bears will bring 90 men to training camp. Who are the most vital to them having a big season and who are the least important potential camp cuts?
There really is no way to formulate criteria for the ranking. It is a mix of impact, value, and the combination of floor and ceiling of what they can bring to the table. With that said, it should show a general idea of where each player ranks in the team’s minds of what they need from them in 2018. It can also provide some fun discussion. Let us begin with number 90.
90. Ryan Winslow, P
It is always tough to find that 90th player. No slight to Winslow, but at the moment he is a back up punter. Pat O’Donnell has been nothing but fine in his stint with the Chicago Bears so the team is not necessarily discussing serious conservation.
Still, it is worth noting that they brought in the leg for competition. It means that they do see something here and want to see more into August.
When looking at his draft profile there is one distinct reason that tends to stick out. His weaknesses are surrounded by inconsistencies in accuracy and strength. However, his strengths feature the ability to throw the football.
Matt Nagy preaches versatility. He is going to mix up the slot, mix up personnel and use players in a variety of alignments. He seems to be intrigued by a punter who can pass as well.
Do not mistake this as a chance for him to make the roster. However, he is now on their radar, and with an NFL coaching plan, he may be able to progress into a more a consistent punter.
No. 89 Jeremi Hall
Hall was a try out candidate from USF who signed to the team after rookie mini camp. Last season he was a first team All-AAC performer at guard. As shown in the play below, he plays with a bit of a vicious streak.
He is a strong run blocker who can get out and hold blocks down the field. However, he is not too fluid of a mover. Here are his combine numbers in comparison to Jordan Morgan, last years fifth-round pick at guard.
Height and Weight
Jordan Morgan (JM): 6’3″, 309 pounds
Jeremi Hall (JH): 6’4″, 307 pounds
40-yard dash
JM: 5.36
JH: 5.53
Bench
JM: 21
JH: 18
Broad:
JM: 102″
JH: 92″
20 yard shuttle:
JM: 4.73
JH: 4.96
3-cone
JM: 8.13
JH: 8.28
Essentially, the project in Morgan is a better athlete and has more invested in him this year, and in the next couple of years. It is not like Morgan is a plus athlete either.
Hall is a smart player who can play physical but he does not have the right type of movement skills to translate into the NFL. It will be an upfield battle for Jeremi Hall to even get consideration next to a player such as Jordan Morgan for repetitions.
88. Matt Fleming
Fleming, like Hall, was a tryout player who worked his way up from a tryout player at minicamp to the 90-man roster. A local player from Simeon high and Benedictine for college, Fleming worked his way into the coaches eyes with understanding and solid route running.
The reason for Fleming being ahead of Hall is the comments that Matt Nagy made about Fleming after a practice. Nagy noted that despite his size he stood out which is more than anything that can be said about Jeremi Hall right now.
Still, the fact of the matter is that this player is facing an uphill battle on the depth chart. Not only did the team add three starters who should make an impact automatically, they also have Kevin White healthy at the moment.
Even with him hurt they drafted Javon Wims in round 7, signed Bennie Fowler and have Josh Bellamy. On top of that, there are a plethora of bigger wide receivers with more NFL experience to fill out the back end.
Fleming came into the NFL at 5’9″, 173 pounds. He may have stood out against some of the younger players, but now mixed in with the veterans he is going to look like a poor mans, Daniel Braverman. Fleming is a nice story but is a bottom of the roster player.
No. 87 Josh Woods
Josh Woods is another long shot to make the roster, but he is at least interesting due to his position. Woods was a strong safety at Maryland. However, the Chicago Bears are listing him as a linebacker on their current roster.
Josh Woods ran a 4.66 at his Pro Day. He is going to be too slow to stick away from the line of scrimmage. He comes into the NFL at 6’1″, 211 pounds, so his size is not far off and does profile as the hybrid linebacker that is becoming more popular today.
There are a plan and a place for his style of play in today’s NFL. It is becoming defensive back heavy, but defending the run is still important.
Still, the Bears did not sign Woods until early into the summer. He had to earn his contract over the course of OTAs and was not sure of his status. Considering that he is going to be changing positions as well, his best outcome in 2018 consists of him spending a year on the practice squad.
Still, the team signed a UDFA in Nick Orr who profiles similar to Woods and the team obviously invested a lot in linebacker. He will be struggling to find snaps in camp.
No. 86 Will Pericak
Will Pericak is the definition of a journeyman NFL player. He started his career as a UDFA with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. After being released after training camp, he spent some time on the San Diego Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars practice squads in 2013.
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However, he was let go and spent his summer of 2014 on the Denver Broncos roster. That led to a full season on the practice squad. Pericak was let go and picked up by the Seattle Seahawks to try to plug the holes in their offensive line.
He spent 2016 on the practice squad. In 2017, the Seahawks waived him injured. He wound up spending some time on the Buffalo Bills roster before signing with the Chicago Bears late into the season.
Pericak is not going to make the roster. However, what he has that the others in this tier do not is experience. He is going to show up every day and act like a professional. He did not last long in his stints because he does not have a lot of talent. However, he lasted full seasons and was signed back to practice squads because he is a professional.
He can push a player such as Jerami Hall to be better than him which puts him above him on the rankings currently.