Chicago Bears 2022 roster ranking: No. 26 Dane Cruikshank
The countdown until the start of the 2022 NFL season is getting closer, and we are getting closer to the end of our countdown of the Chicago Bears roster. This list is focusing on which players will have the biggest impact on the 2022 season when it comes to wins and losses.
We have cracked the top 30 and are getting close to the primary starters. Now, we are at number 26 overall.
Chicago Bears 2022 roster ranking: No. 26 Dane Cruikshank
Dane Cruikshank was a free agent signing at safety from the Tenessee Titans. He was drafted in 2018 and played out his entire rookie salary deal with the Titans before testing free agency. Cruikshank only has four career starts, and they all came last season.
Still, he has been relied on for the Titans and first made the roster solely on the special team’s ability. He became a key contributor to that unit, and that earned him a role in the dime package on defense.
Cruikshank started to get the role as a tight-end defender for the Titans by the end of his time. It is his athletic upside and length that help. They would put him in man and ask him to stick to his guy, which allowed him to play without thinking too much.
When he first signed with Chicago there were thoughts that the team may be asking him to do a bit more, but when they drafted Jaquan Brisker, it almost ensure that he will be in essentially the same role he has been.
Next. 10 worst picks made by Ryan Pace. dark
He should be the dime safety and a special teams contributor. That puts him right ahead of DeAndre Houston-Carson, who came back but saw Cruikshak get a bigger deal than him.
Still, it also puts him right outside of the top 22 when it comes to a starting 11 on each side. He will get enough snaps that he will be in the mix but is right on the outside.