What does the Chicago Bears tight end depth chart look like now that the NFL Draft is over?
The Chicago Bears tight end room could be given an incomplete grade last season as a whole. Trey Burton shined in moments, but Adam Shaheen dealt with injuries and Dion Sims got hurt before being let go. Matt Nagy has stressed a need for three tight ends in his offense and paid Sims just for that reason.
Still, the team was relatively quiet in replacing Sims. Is this a good sign for Shaheen, or does this mean less tight ends for the time being in the Nagy offense? Here is their tight end depth chart.
1. Trey Burton
Burton had a strong season but may have been overused, mainly as a blocker. Could a more limited role mean a step forward for Burton?
2. Adam Shaheen
The Bears being quiet on the tight end front has to be a good sign for Shaheen, who has shown more impressively as a blocker than a pass catcher so far. Can Shaheen take that step forward this year? At the worst, if Shaheen is healthy the Bears have a blocking complement to Burton.
3. Ben Braunecker
This will be the last chance for Ben Braunecker, who has spent most of his time on the practice squad but has not shown much significant growth. Not adding a tight end said a lot for Shaheen, but says more about the potential role for Braunecker in his last chance.
4. Dax Raymond
The Chicago Bears did not add tight end much this offseason, but Raymond was the top UDFA
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option at tight end. Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace had to convince him to come to Chicago somehow. Still, while he can beat out Braunecker, Raymond went undrafted mainly off of the idea that he was a weak run blocker. He will have to improve here before he gets any chance.
5. Ian Bunting
Bunting stands over 6’7″ and weighs over 250 pounds. He has the size to be an Adam Shaheen replacement but is even less refined than the big man from Ashland.
6. Ellis Richardson
Richardson is a talented athlete from Georgia State who is going to need one season on the practice squad to put on some weight to handle bigger NFL players.