Who are the top 20 players on the Chicago Bears roster?
As the offseason has gone by we have continued to highlight the top players on the Chicago Bears roster. Slowly but surely we have navigated into the top 20. These players are starters who will likely create an impact every week in 2019.
As always the rankings will focus on 2019 and 2019 only. They will focus on the talent level of the player, but also their positional value to the team, their 2019 impact, and the value they have over others at their position.
With all of that said, here are the 20-15.
20. David Montgomery
The rookie third-round pick cracks our top 20 players of 2019 list. Yes, expecting a third-round pick to be an instant starter and top 20 player on a contending roster may be asking a lot. However, the Bears also think they have something special in David Montgomery.
Montgomery checks every box they are looking for in a back. He also passed every test the team had, as they met with nearly every running back in the class to pick out the right one. Matt Nagy, who drafted Kareem Hunt sees a Hunt look alike, and the Iowa State running backs coach who also coached Hunt agrees.
This is a player who the Bears selected and traded up for because of his ability to get on the field right away. This is not a high upside play as Montgomery fell to round three because he is who he is.
Still, even in the rookie year of Hunt, he was behind Spencer Ware before Ware got hurt. Mike Davis can play the role of Ware, and will cut into the Montgomery workload. However, Montgomery will lead the team in carries next season, and that should be expected.
19. Bobby Massie
Last Year: 30
One of the players on this roster who improved the most from last season to the next year would have to be Bobby Massie. Massie is not necessarily a fan favorite and has never been a strong point to an offensive line.
However, he has always been good enough. Last year, he maintained his status, and then some. With Kyle Long injured and a rookie at right guard, he became the third best lineman on a playoff offensive line.
The Chicago Bears locked Bobby Massie down to an extension after he played so well in 2018. He now is locked in as a solid right tackle which jumps him from fringe top 30, to inside the top 20. That is a good jump for Massie.
18. Trey Burton
Last Year: 18
We entered last year optimistic about what Burton can become, but cautious because he has not proven much. Heading into year two, you could say much of the same.
Yes, Burton displayed a strong ability to get open over the middle of the field and run with the ball in his hands. However, he wore down as the season got on, missed the playoff game with a hernia . and showed that his upside as a blocking tight end is limited.
He has a role and he can play it well. No more but no less. That gives good reason for Burton to remain in the same spot.
One thing to watch for with Burton will be the players around him. If Matt Nagy can use the other tight ends to highlight the role of Burton, his value can be exemplified.
Health is always a big concern. However, the success of Bradley Sowell and, Adam Shaheen may be what fully unleashed Burton and sees a jump in the rankings.
17. Tarik Cohen
Last Year: 15
Last year, we were fully ready to see Tarik Cohen unleashed. Nagy unleashed Cohen, and he had an excellent season. However, he drops two spots because he we may have seen that there are also some limitations to Cohen.
The Bears desire to sign Mike Davis and trade up for David Montgomery spoke loudly that the Bears need a true power running back. They love Cohen, and will use him to the best of his ability. However, he is a player who needs to be manufactured touches in the offense. The offense will run through Montgomery and Davis. Allen Robinson and the crew will lead as pass catchers. Cohen is a nice combination of the group.
With that in mind, the additions of Cordarelle Patterson and Kerrith Whyte also raise concerns to just how many touches Cohen will get. Do not get it wrong, Cohen will be a key piece to the offense. He is set to get about 10 touches per game. However, this is why he will consistently sit . around the top 15 of valuable pieces.
16. Anthony Miller
Anthony Miller jumps into the top 20 after an impressive rookie season. What makes his rookie season even better is that he was playing through a serious shoulder injury. Still, he was able to put up seven touchdowns and secure himself as a reliable target for Mitch Trubisky on third down and in the red zone.
Now in year two he will look to build off of that, stay healthy and put up even more yards and catches to go with his touchdowns.
When the Bears added Riley Ridley many questioned if that was Allen Robinson insurance. Marvin Hall and Emanuel Hall have the deep field potential to fill in for Gabriel. One thing is for sure, and that is that Miller is a longterm solution to this offense.
Look for Miller to slowly become a longterm go-to weapon for Mitch Trubisky with a strong 2019 campaign.