3 surprising players who could make the Chicago Bears roster

Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears front office have done a masterful job of building a playoff-caliber roster over the past two years, and many of the starting positions are set in stone. However, the back end of the roster is still mostly up in the air, as is the case every year. A few players always seem to come out of nowhere and grab a backup job at the end of the roster.

There are a variety of factors that influence a player's chances of making the final cut, including preseason performance, how they play in practice, and their draft position. However, the deciding factor when evaluating those on the roster bubble often comes down to their position and how much depth the team has at that spot.

The Bears may field their most competitive roster in years, but the fact of the matter is that there will still be a few surprises on the roster when all is said and done. A handful of players can put themselves in a position to make the squad if they make a strong impression over the next two months.

3 surprising players to make the Bears - Keith Randolph Jr.

Keith Randolph Jr. was the easiest inclusion on this list, as he was undoubtedly the Bears' most exciting pickup from their undrafted free-agent class. The University of Illinois product may have flown well under the radar relative to the man who lined up next to him (Washington Commanders second-round selection Jer'Zhan Newton), but he is a very talented player in his own right.

Randolph's best trait is his ability to stop the run, and he often stonewalled opposing offensive guards lining up against him. While he does show some ability to get in the backfield as a pass-rusher, that will probably never be one of his calling cards.

The Bears lack depth along the defensive line, which improves his chances to make the final roster. Gervon Dexter Sr. is currently the only player guaranteed to start at defensive tackle, although Andrew Billings will also probably be a staple on the early downs with how he played last season. Behind those two, Chicago's depth chart is bare, consisting only of Zacch Pickens (who probably won't make an early-down impact), two journeymen in Bryon Cowart and Michael Dwumfour, and fellow undrafted rookie Jamree Kromah. No world beaters in that group.

He might never develop into a flashy player, but players who consistently play well against the run tend to enjoy long careers on the interior. The Bears could have a fun developmental project in Randolph, who landed in a perfect situation where he could learn behind a similar player in Billings.

All things considered, he is still a long shot with the veterans in front of him. However, if Randolph does impress enough to make the squad, he could eventually carve out a role on first and second down if he proves he can hold his own in the ground game.