As the offseason slowly counts down to the start of training camp we are counting down the Chicago Bears roster to see which players may be the most valuable on the roster. We are going from 90 all the way down to number one, and today we are at number 59.
This list is looking at the players that will impact the Bears’ record the most.
Chicago Bears 2022 roster ranking: No. 59 Joe Thomas
Not quite the Hall of Fame Joe Thomas, and only the second-best name behind Lamar Jackson the cornerback on our list. Nope, Joe Thomas is a linebacker and one who has been in the NFL since 2015.
After a few seasons with the Green Bay Packers, he spent the next three years with the Dallas Cowboys. He did not quite overlap with Matt Eberflus, but Rob Marinelli, a mentor for Eberflus was there.
In 2021, he was with Houston and Baltimore. He did get much work, but he typically has made the roster when he has signed with a team. With that in mind. 59 might end up being low, especially in the linebacker room that is thin as Chicago has.
Still, one thing going against Thomas is that he is 30 years old. Considering he is just going to be depth as it is, there is a chance that names such as Jack Sanborn, and C.J. Avery, two players that are UDFAs but are seven or eight years younger than Thomas, may be better fitting for the younger roster.
They bring more upside and they could find a way to make a longer-lasting impact, giving them a longer leash.
If Joe Thomas makes the roster he will be the third or fourth guy, and his role would only be special teams. The impact is not too high. That is why even in a best-case he may end up as high as 50. For now, with a chance that he gets cut this summer, and not enough upside to be higher, we have him at 59.