Training camp for the Chicago Bears is going to be a brutal battle between so many talented players, fighting for a chance to make an NFL roster.
OTAs have already brought out the best in the Bears' roster and set the foundation for what is going to be a dramatic summer of work. Even during this break, looking at what the team has, there is so much talent that is going to be tough to work through on who should make the roster and who should be tough.
Five Bears players have already shown that they are the alphas on this team, even though they are still emerging as potential starters or star players in general. Here is a look at the emerging players taking things to a different level in 2026.
5 Bears that are flashing alpha traits before training camp starts
Braxton Jones, OT
Last season was rough on Jones, as he was benched after four games and was placed on IR for part of the season with an injury. Now 100% healthy physically and mentally, Jones seems like a different person and has the backing of his head coach, Ben Johnson, at left tackle, with Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss significant time with his injury. Jones has been transparent with the media and has taken ownership of his struggles, as everyone is noticing a change in him that could be what he needed to potentially hold on to his left tackle job for good.
Austin Booker, DE
Booker gets better and better every season, but 2026 is the most pressure he has ever been under as he's got to step up as Montez Sweat's second-in-command pass rusher. Throughout OTAs, Booker was the big standout of the edge rushers on the Bears, showing that he continues to improve going into his third season. This could be the one where he finally breaks out and lives up to the expectations fans and the team have been wanting to see from him.
Dillon Thieneman, S
It was a slow start for Thieneman as the Bears eased him into the starting lineup at OTAs, but once he did, he was making plays like "sacking" Caleb Williams. The rookie first-round pick has received praise from key figures, including his running mate in the secondary, Coby Bryant. Thieneman is considered the future of the defense and is already flexing his muscles, showing he will be a great talent on this team for a long time.
Zavion Thomas, WR
From the beginning, expectations were lowered for Thomas as a third-round pick, as he was seen more as a special teams player with his 4.28-second speed. OTAs might be showing a different story as Thomas dominated with big plays and showed off that fast speed to make him look like he's got a chance to play a bigger role in this offense, either at receiver or at running back. Thomas said he was comfortable playing any role being asked of him, proving that he's willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.
Read more: It's time for Bears draft pick to step up or step back in 2026
Caleb Williams, QB
It's Year 3 for Williams, but he is still emerging just at a completely different level from the rest of the team. He had another great OTAs and picked up right where he left off from last season. The leadership skills have been talked about more often this offseason by teammates and coaches around Williams, signaling that he is taking ownership of this team as the Bears' franchise quarterback, which could lead to another monster season incoming for the future MVP.
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