How would you rank the top 90 players on the Chicago Bears roster?
With the long break between the start of preseason and the end of mini-camps, it is a great chance to look back on the roster. There will not be much movement between now and then which gives us enough time to go through each player on the current 90-man roster.
This ranking will at the player through the eyes of just 2019. It will look at each player based on their talent level, what they could potentially bring to the team as well as their value.
With that in mind, we have worked our way all the way up to the top 50.
50. Kerrith Whyte, RB
Kerrith Whyte was a fascinating pick at the time, and it will be even more interesting to see how the Chicago Bears used the 7th round pick from Florida Atlantic. What is interesting about Whyte is that he was not even a lead back at FAU. Of course, that was Devin Singletary.
Whyte was a change of pace player who could motion into the slot, run jet sweeps, and return kicks. The Chicago Bears are fascinated with his speed. The question now becomes how will he be involved.
He certainly will compete for a role as a kick return option, but could eventually get into the mix on offense as well. His mix of versatility could turn him into a backup at the “trojan” position that is being designated for Cordarelle Patterson.
Nonetheless, his value makes him too hard to stash on the practice squad. His special team’s value should also make him active on Sundays.
49. Kylie Fitts, OLB
Last Year: 38
The sixth-round pick from Utah now enters year two in the NFL hoping to make a step forward from last year. Unfortunately, based on our rankings he actually took a step back. A lot of that has to do with the trade of Khalil Mack.
Before the Bears traded for Mack, they were going to be in a position where they relied on Fitts. Fortunately for them, they pushed the value and opportunity back. That is not to say Fitts was bad either. He was fine in his rookie season.
However, rather than competing for starting snaps, he was competing for depth snaps with Isaiah Irving. Even in that regard, it can be argued that he is entering the preseason behind Irving.
The . Bears did not draft anybody at outside linebacker. That is a good sign For Fitts, who should make the roster again. However, Chuck Harris and Matthieu Betts were signed as UDFAs, and they will be pressing for a job.
In a good season, Fitts steps in over Irving as a clear fourth rusher who could be a rotational three moving forward. The downside is seeing Harris pass him up. 2019 will be a big year for Fitts.
48. DeAndre Houston-Carson
Last Year: 55
DeAndre Houston-Carson stuck around for another season, which gives him a bit of a boost from last year in our rankings. However, it may have less to do with him and more to do with the names around him.
In fact, the Chicago Bears firmly let Houston-Carson test the market in free agency this spring. Houston-Carson did not get a bite, and returned to the Chicago Bears. However, when looking at the Bears roster, he sits comfortably inside the top 53, and looking at the safety depth chart shows a player who is not far away from having to see the field.
The Bears replaced Adrian Amos with HaHa Clinton-Dix. However, the did absolutely nothing else to upgrade their safeties. Deon Bush is ahead of him, but Houston-Carson is next in line.
On top of that, Houston-Carson brings special teams value. At his floor, he is a great addition on special teams. At his ceiling, he is contributing to the defense. That is the sign of a player who has cracked the top 50.
47. Isaiah Irving
Last Year: 48
Don’t look now but UDFA Isaiah Irving is going to make the roster for his third straight year. No matter what he amounts to, he had an impressive career considering his odds. On top of that, while Khalil Mack saw Fitts drop in our ranks, Irving has stayed about the same in his place.
He is technically sound and brings special teams value. However, his athletic and physical upside limits what he is. He is what he is, no more, no less. Fitts may have more upside, but also has much volatility.
With that in mind, it is more likely for Irving to make the roster, and hold off Chuck Harris or Matthieu Betts. On top of that, it is more likely for him to see rotational snaps next season.
While Irving is never going to put up gaudy sack numbers, he can be trusted. Irving is likely to be a fourth pass rusher next season and cracks the top 50.
46. Jonathan Bullard
Last Year: 22
You are unlikely to find a bigger year to year faller than Bullard in our rankings. Yes, before last season we were betting on Bullard to step into that third defensive lineman role beside Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks.
Let this ranking speak truly to our feelings on Bullard. It is time for any truther to let go. It is not going to happen for Bullard, at least not in Chicago.
Bullard entered last year in a competition with Roy Robertson-Harris and wound up phased out by Bilal Nichols. Now he enters training camp as the clear number five defensive lineman in this rotation.
Bullard is unlikely to see a contract extension and will spend one more year in Chicago taking minimal snaps and then move onto somewhere new.