2021 Chicago Bears roster rank No. 26: Is Duke Shelley the slot answer?
We are now onto number 26 in our countdown of the top Chicago Bears for the upcoming 2021 season. That is a reminder that this list is only looking at the 2021 season and what their impact could be. It is dissecting how a best-case could help the Bears, but also how if they were hurt they would be by the worst case in 2021.
With that said we are now onto number 26.
No. 26 Chicago Bears CB Duke Shelley
Duke Shelley joined our list at number 38 before jumping to 35 last season. This year he sees a big jump, although many could argue he may even be higher.
It appears as though Shelley is penciled into starting in the slot for week one. Things can change, but this looks like his role and he took it over starting last year when Buster Skrine went out with a concussion.
The reason Shelley is not higher is the same reason that he has not locked down the slot job. He was questionable at best last season and really struggled to communicate and navigate crossing routes and switching off his man. Teams picked on him from the slot, so the commitment this offseason is surprising in some ways.
In others, the team brought back Artie Burns and have been talking up Kindle Vildor. They drafted Thomas Graham and signed Desmond Trufant. These aren’t definitive slot options, but it shows that they have a rip chord ready to pull if Shelley. For the sake of not making me look bad if there is a big drop on his ranking between this year and next, we will stay conservative and put him at 26 heading into 2021.
Next. Christian Jones will have a role. dark
Check out 90-27 below.
90. Brian Johnson
89. Rojesterman Farris
88. Khalil McClain
87. Caleb Johnson
86. Sam Kamara
85. Daniel Arcibong
84. Scooter Harrington
83. Chris Lacy
82. Dionte Ruffin
81. Rodney Adams
80. Tyrone Wheatley
79. Thomas Ives
78. CJ Marable
77. Jester Weah
76. Jake Butt
75. Teez Tabor
74. LeCale London
73. Daureuan Parker
72. Michael Joseph
71. LeDarius Mack
70. Adam Redmond
69. Tre Roberson
68. Xavier Crawford
67. Badara Traore
66. Artavis Pierce
65. Ryan Nall
64. Riley Ridley
63. Patrick Scales
62. Joel Iyiegbuniwe
61. Charles Snowden
60. Dieter Eiselen
59. Artie Burns
58. Lachavious Simmons
57. Jesper Horsted
56. Arlington Hambright
55. Dazz Newsome
54. Marqui Christian
53. Josh Woods
52. Jordan Lucas
51. James Vaughters
50. DeAndre Houston-Carson
49. Austin Calitro
48. Khiyris Tonga
47. Javon Wims
46. Nick Foles
45. Thomas Graham
44. Mike Pennel
43. Trevis Gipson
42. Pat O’Donnell
41. J.P. Holtz
40. Khalil Herbert
39. Larry Borom
38. Deon Bush
37. Cairo Santos
36. Angelo Blackson
35. Elijah Wilkinson
34. Damien Williams
33. Damiere Byrd
32. Marquise Goodwin
31. Alex Bars
30. Jimmy Graham
29. Tarik Cohen
28. Anthony Miller
27. Christian Jones