With the Chicago Bears’ first preseason game in the books, we have a much bigger picture of what the team will look like heading into the season. With that in mind, we can start to dig into the team’s 53-man depth chart and project what it may look like. Our post-draft projection is here in case you want to see the changes.
Quarterback (3)
Andy Dalton, Justin Fields, Nick Foles
This is pretty set in stone, although number two is catching up to number one.
Running Back (4)
David Montgomery, Damien Williams, Khalil Herbert, Tarik Cohen
Montgomery is the starter, and Damien Williams will be next in line in carries. Tarik Cohen can help in the passing game, and return punts while Herbert will return kicks. All have a role.
Wide Receiver (5)
Allen Robinson, Marquise Goodwin, Darnell Mooney, Damiere Byrd, Dazz Newsome
The experiment with Javon Wims and Riley Ridley is over. It appears more and more as though Robinson will live in the slot with the speedsters on the outside.
Tight End (4)
Cole Kmet, Jimmy Graham, Jesse James, JP Holtz
James has fit in with Justin Fields quickly, while Holtz is a lock due to an ability to motion into the h-back spot.
Offensive Line (10)
Jason Peters, Cody Whitehair, Sam Mustipher, James Daniels, Elijah Wilkerson, Germain Ifedi, Larry Borom, Teven Jenkins, Alex Bars, Arlington Hambright
With all of the injuries on the line, the extra depth of a 10th lineman is needed. Beyond that, someone such as Jenkins or Ifedi may wind up on the PUP which may help keep another, or at least the other nine. Hambright gets the nod over Lachavious Simmons because he is depth at guard for a team that all of the sudden has a lot of names at tackle.
Defensive Line (6)
Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols, Eddie Goldman, Angelo Blackson, Mario Edwards, Khyris Tonga
Tonga showed that he is well ahead of the veteran Mike Pennel which is a great sign. The rest are locked in.
Edge Rushers (4)
Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, Jeremiah Attachou, Trevis Gipson
Gipson has cleared James Vaughters with ease, who all of the sudden does not bring much value.
Linebackers (4)
Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Alec Ogletree, Christian Jones
Ogletree allowed a reception and missed a tackle but had multiple big plays as well to redeem himself. The big plays are worth keeping around over Joel Iyiegbuniwe, who still is slow to react.
Defensive Backs (10)
Eddie Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Deon Bush, Jordan Lucas, Kindle Vildor, Desmond Trufant, Duke Shelley, Jaylon Johnson, Xavier Crawford
Lucas and Crawford are likely the only notable names here. Crawford was the first outside corner on the field after Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor and played the slot. He was also first-team special teams. Lucas saw a lot of ST work as well.
Specialists (3)
Pat O Donnell, Cairo Santos, Patrick Scales.