How would you rank the top 90 players on the Chicago Bears roster?
Ranking 90-86 85-81 80-76 75-71 70-66 65-61
With the long wait between the start of Chicago Bears training camp and OTAs it is a good time to look at the Chicago Bears roster top to bottom. This will assess whose value is the most important to the roster in 2018 when assessing their floor and ceiling. It is not a perfect numerical grade, but should present good conversation about where players stand heading into camp. Today, we look at players 60-56.
60. Earl Watford
Earl Watford has the chance to be this year’s, Tom Compton. Last year, the Chicago Bears signed Compton to a one-year deal, with similar experience to Watford. Compton played in a reserve role at guard and parlayed that into a potential starting spot with the Minnesota Vikings.
Watford comes in having started 22 games in five NFL seasons. The former fourth-round draft pick spent the first four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, playing right tackle and right guard.
The Cardinals let him go and he spent training camp in Jacksonville. However, in October, the Cardinals picked him back up and he finished the year starting nine games for them at right guard.
As mentioned in our last post with Dejon Allen, Bradley Sowell is beatable for a roster spot. The offensive line is healthier at the moment, and the hope is that some of these younger names emerge. However, Watford does have experience and is going to linger around the back end of the roster.
59. Jordan Morgan
The Chicago Bears are really hoping to see something out of Jordan Morgan in year two. Morgan has put himself into a bit of a tough spot. Morgan was coming from a small school and was an unrefined project of a guard. The idea was to use his rookie season on the practice squad refining his game. Unfortunately, most of his season was spent rehabbing his injury.
Now he enters an important year two where he is looking to show progress but also maintain his health. Essentially, Morgan will be playing catch up from day one.
Still, the team did invest a fifth-round pick in him. When it comes to him and Earl Watford, Jordan Morgan is getting the priority in snaps. The hope is that this preseason, the team will have a great idea of what they can get out of Jordan Morgan.
There is a good chance that right now Morgan starts his season on the practice squad. However, his progression will be important.
58. Cody Parkey
Cody Parkey was one of the toughest players to rank. To start, what is the overall value of a kicker? As kickoffs have become more and more of a formality, one area of the game in which there is a need for a kicker has diminished.
Still, the need for a kicker to put points on the board matters. The question is can the Cody Parkey do that? This is a player who is now on his fourth team in as many years. He went 21-23 with the Miami Dolphins. 20-25 for the Cleveland Browns a year before that.
He spent three years with the Philadelphia Eagles going 55-65. He has the makings to be a fine kicker for the Bears, and likely one of the 53 best players on the roster.
Still, the Chicago Bears are cursed at kicker. Whatever it was, this team has not been able to find a reliable kicker after Robbie Gould. It is tough to just assume that Parkey, on team four is the player to reverse the curse. So while he certainly has the chance to make this ranking seem way too low, for the time being, it feels deserved.
57. Ryan Nall
Ryan Nall is one of the UDFAs from 2018 who has the best chance to make the team. A theme from this ranking has been players with positional versatility moving up a peg or two. Matt Nagy has been consistent in stresses he loves versatility, especially on offense.
Ryan Nall brings that.
What is nice about Ryan Nall is that he can block, and line up in the H-back position. This could potentially take away the need for a full-time fullback. Michael Burton was on the list earlier due to the fact that he was so limited as a fullback.
Nall can line up as the fullback. He can also line up deep in the backfield and run the football. Most importantly, he can catch out of the backfield.
Related Story: Ryan Nall UDFA profile
The ability to have a player line up out of the H-back spot and catch the football down the field is a huge advantage pre-snap. Ryan Nall should come in the favorite to make the team over Michael Burton. We will see if the coaching staff agrees.
56. DeAndre Houston-Carson
Entering year three, it has certainly not clicked on the defensive side of the football for DeAndre Houston-Carson. However, it does appear that he is going to attempt to stick around long-term due to his special team’s prowess. That will be put to the test this season.
More from Bear Goggles On
- Franchise tag and transition tag windows open for Chicago Bears and NFL
- How the Chicago Bears can control the running back market in 2023
- The Chicago Bears can own the city of Chicago moving forward
- Chicago Bears NFL Combine Preview: Quarterback
- 7 best free agent tackle options for Chicago Bears
When looking at the numbers, the Bears are deep at cornerback and will keep five or six cornerbacks. Adrian Amos, Eddie Jackson, and Deon Bush are all guaranteed a spot ahead of Houston-Carson. The highest number of defensive backs the Chicago Bears will keep is 10.
If eight or nine spots are locked up ahead of Houston-Carson, he is going to be in a real fight for a roster spot. Deiondre’ Hall can play cornerback and safety and presents similar special teams value. On top of that, Sherrick McManis is essentially getting a spot solely due to his special team’s ability. How many players can you keep just because of special teams?
Houston-Carson has 24 defensive snaps in two seasons. He has missed tackles on tape in the preseason hindering his chances. This could be a make or break year for DeAndre Houston-Carson. Considering his ranking, he will be fighting for a job.