Chicago Bears 2022 roster ranking: No. 31 Ryan Griffin

We are counting down the days until training camp by also counting the Chicago Bears roster down. This list is looking at which players will have the biggest impact on the 2022 record. We have made our way to number 31.

Chicago Bears 2022 roster ranking: No. 31 Ryan Griffin

Ryan Griffin was a free agent signing at tight end. Griffin has been in the NFL since 2013, mainly as a depth tight end or a role player in the offense. From 2013 through the 2018 season he was on the Houston Texans, starting 36 times in that six-season run.

Then, the last season Griffin was on the New York Jets, starting 31 times in that span. He was looked at is a more increased role with the Jets, and may see the field more as the Chicago Bears look to go into more two-tight end sets.

Still, the reality of this signing is that it brings a steady depth name behind Cole Kmet. When Jimy Graham was signed he was obviously not respected as a blocker, so it forced Kmet being more of a blocker than anything.

That is a great, but also a waste of a resource considering how high he was drafted. Griffin being the more traditional tight end should allow for Kmet to be the player who can flex out wide, into the slot and other locations.

It also gives the Bears two respected tight ends who can block which goes a longer way than some fans think. It is hard to say because Jimmy Graham will likely end up in the Hall of Fame, but by the end of his career, he was probably creating less value than Griffin, who is more boring on paper but more trusted on a football field.

He is not in the top 22, which is the starters, but of the role players, he is going to be trusted and going to have an impact on the team which gets him close to the top 30.