Expect Jesse James to make Chicago Bears roster

The Chicago Bears signed Jesse James late into the offseason. With him coming right before the true start of training camp it is fair to say that he hasn’t missed enough that he is behind, but without OTAs, it is fair to wonder how close to a lock James is for the final roster. The reality is that while he went unsigned for so long, he did not get signed by Chicago so that they could cut him. He is going to make the roster.

Last season James had a role that was likely a bit over his head with the Detroit Lions. However, that role was the number two tight end beside T.J. Hockenson. Early into the career of Hockenson he was a de facto number one beside the rookie. At times James could handle the role, and almost all of his snaps came in line, which helped the team make Hockenson more moveable.

However, while James was the number two in Detroit, he enters Chicago as the clear number three. A low-end number two can certainly be a higher-end number three. The Chicago Bears were going to keep three, and potentially even four tight ends depending on their roster construction. The Bears trading Anthony Miller helps the idea that the Bears could keep an extra tight end on the roster.

With potentially four tight ends making the roster, James would be looked at as a lock, but even with three, there is a great chance that he is going to fill the role.

Jimmy Graham is not looked at as a respected blocker and is basically just a big slot wide out now. Cole Kmet is versatile, but with Graham, it is hard to move him around. Graham was making Kmet one-dimensional. On the other end, James is one-dimensional in that he is not going to line up in the slot and is not going to beat teams with athleticsm.

However, James can line up in-line and help Kmet move around when Graham is in the slot. Even with JP Holtz, their potential number four tight end they view him as a full back of sorts, and Jesper Horsted has never made an impact as a blocker.

James fits perfectly in terms of the type of role the Bears need with Kmet and Graham. He has been a starter in the NFL and has been a number two for the majority of his career. With three locks to make the roster, a perfect fit and a number two in the role of number three sounds like a player that is going to stick around.