How would you rank the Chicago Bears 90-man roster heading into training camp
Ranking 90-86 85-81 80-76 75-71 70-66 65-61 60-56
With the long wait between OTAs and training camp it is a good chance to assess the entire Chicago Bears roster. Where does everyone stand in terms of expectations? This series will rank the Chicago Bears roster based on how valuable they are to the success moving forward. It is an arbitrary ranking that should give a general idea of what the players floor and ceiling may be.
Today, we look at players 55-51.
55. Deiondre’ Hall
Deiondre’ Hall is in a similar spot to DeAndre Houston-Carson. Both are entering year three and neither has proven much in their first two seasons. Hall played cornerback and safety in his rookie season. While he did not see the field much, he showed some promise and showed special teams value.
However, in the summer of his second offseason, a hamstring injury disrupted everything. Hall spent the first portion of his season working back from the injury and the second portion of his season getting acclimated to the defense again. So after a year essentially lost, Hall is now entering an interesting stage in his career with the Bears.
Hall is listed as a cornerback on the depth chart. That may not be the best news for Hall. The team is a bit thinner at safety, and at safety, he would likely be competing with Houston-Carson for a roster spot. Hall has more pedigree, a bit more invested and has size and athleticism on Houston-Carson.
It would give him the nod as the two enter camp. However, at cornerback, he has the three starters, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Marcus Cooper and more to compete with. Hall has practice squad eligibility, which would likely be the route if the team saw him as a cornerback and not a safety.
54. Taquan Mizzell
Taquan Mizzell was a late addition to the roster last season and was hardly activated. He got a helmet for three games last year and played just ten NFL snaps, eight on special teams. As a Chicago Bears player, he is unknown.
However, we do know from his stint in Baltimore that he is a shifty back who can catch the football out of the backfield.
He is exactly what Matt Nagy is looking for out of his running backs and has a good chance to make the team again. When looking at the running back landscape, Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen are obviously above him.
With Benny Cunningham, it will come down to pass protection. Cunningham has been solid in this area. We really do not know how Mizzell has been, but the last coaching regime did not trust him.
There is also the idea that Ryan Nall could beat him out in camp for a running back spot. Nagy did sign Nall, while Mizzell is a left over from the last crew. Still, as we have mentioned Nall can make the roster over Michael Burton. Given the pass catching and lateral agility of Mizzell, you would think that he has a pretty good chance of making the roster.
53. Bennie Fowler
Bennie Fowler has signed this offseason after spending four seasons with the Denver Broncos. He is coming off of the best season of his career statistically, where he caught 29 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns.
Fowler showed a reason for the Chicago Bears to invest in him in 2017. He had a solid catch radius.
And he was able to get separation with his feet. Watch the ability to excellerate to separate over the middle.
Bennie Fowler brings in special teams value as well. He did not play special teams as much as Josh Bellamy, but he could be a decent bandage if the Chicago Bears see him as a better option receiving than Josh Bellamy.
At the time, Bellamy does get the nod. He has proven more in a Bears uniform. However, Fowler is younger and is going to be in the mix this preseason. Do not be surprised if Fowler is able to carve out a roster spot this summer.
52. Hroniss Grasu
Grasu is going to be heading into training camp with a huge chip on his shoulder. A player who was once looked at as the potential future of the team at the center is now entering 2018 with no guarantees as to his roster spot.
The offseason moves in which surrounded the Chicago Bears have the arrow pointing down on Grasu. The team drafted James Daniels and moved him to guard. It showed their confidence in Cody Whitehair at center. They also expressed confidence in Eric Kush this offseason. This has Grasu as at the very best the fourth interior lineman in the mix. That is not a good spot to be in.
On top of that, Grasu lacks versatility. Versatility has been a key factor to bump some players up in the eyes of Matt Nagy. This could be the reverse effect on Grasu. Grasu does not have experience playing any position but center. Whitehair, Kush, and Daniels can play guard and center. Having a fourth interior lineman who can only play one of the three interior positions does not sound like a player that is going to stick around the roster.
Grasu will likely catch on as a backup center somewhere else. He has the talent of a top 53 player, but his status may not be similar in 2018.
51. John Jenkins
John Jenkins has a legitimate role with the Chicago Bears as the team’s backup nose tackle. In most cases, it is a job in which he does need to see the field much. Last season Jenkins played 109 snaps over eight games. He played 20 snaps in three of those games.
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He is a player who may see the field in goal-line situations. He also may be inactive on Sunday’s. However, he has a role and the team needs him. Not many players have the size and strength combination to hold down a 0-technique.
John Jenkins has that ability to be an anchor. If Eddie Goldman were to go down to injury, the Chicago Bears would need a collective effort up the middle. Bilal Nichols and Jonathan Bullard would shoulder some of the load, but neither can anchor a line like John Jenkins.
It is a job that is going to bring little to no statistics. It may not feature many snaps. However, his job is a needed part of the Chicago Bears, and the team has confidence and understanding that he can do his specific job. That puts him on the right side of the top 53 players.