Two years ago, writing about Bears players with little-to-no job security would have been way easier. It's a testament to the work that GM Ryan Poles has done turning this team around, reshaping the roster almost entirely in a few (dreadful) seasons. Now, a glance up and down the roster shows a young team with a ton of top-end talent and Brett Rypien.
The Bears' upcoming camp will be one of the more anticipated months in recent memory, as everyone finally gets their first look at how Caleb Williams slots into a team that, on paper, looks ready to challenge Detroit and Green Bay (sorry Minnesota) for NFC North titles. Still, even on a team with most of the starting lineup already established, there are plenty of positional battles to keep an eye on, and a few familiar names that aren't safe from roster cuts. Basically, it's time to start thinking about how you can refurbish your Velus Jones jersey.
These are the four guys that, while everyone else is busy watching Williams throw deep balls to Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, will be fighting to keep their roster spots in 2024.
2 Bears offensive players who won’t make the 53-man roster in 2024
Velus Jones Jr., WR
Maybe the biggest miss of the Ryan Poles era? So far, through the first two years of his career, Jones has more rushing yards (154) than receiving yards (127).
While Jones does have that type of versatility, it's not because he's found a unique, hybrid role in the Bears offense and flourished in it. Ball security's been a real issue through his time in Chicago, and without any real contributions on special teams, it's hard to find a spot for Jones on the roster next year.
As things stand currently, the Bears' wide receiver depth behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen isn't particularly strong, so maybe he can sneak on there – but if the Bears end up taking one of the top three wide receiver prospects with the ninth overall pick in a few weeks, that's probably curtains for Jones. It's not like there are going to be a lot of opportunities at running back, either.
Keeping a roster spot open for a guy who isn't strong on special teams and gets healthy scratched two or three times a season doesn't seem wise.
Larry Borom, OL
Having a ton of playable offensive linemen at your disposal is never a bad thing, but it does feel like Borom may be the odd man out when cuts come around this summer. Three of the five starting linemen are already penciled in – if healthy, Teven Jenkins, Darnell Wright, and Coleman Shelton will all be out there in Week 1.
It wouldn't be all that surprising to see Nate Davis and Braxton Jones starting either, though both of those guys probably have significantly less job security.
If Borom can outplay Ryan Bates and Ja'Tyre Carter in camp, maybe he will earn a backup role – he's definitely versatile enough to plug in at any point on the line, even if the vast majority of his pro snaps have been at tackle. More than anything though, Poles' approach to the Draft will be a good means to gauge Borom's job security next season.
2 Bears defensive players who won’t make the 53-man roster in 2024
Dominique Robinson, EDGE
You can't blame the Bears for wanting to roll the dice on Robinson – 6'5, 250 lbs edge rushers don't just grow on trees, and he was always going to require some patience as he moved from college wide receiver to pro edge rusher.
The results simply haven't been there. 2023 was a step back, both in terms of actual snaps played and production – he only appeared in 11 games (17 in 2022) without a start. It's not like the Bears' defensive line is loaded with talent, either.
His case is sort of similar to Velus Jones', in that the amount of healthy scratches are starting to speak for themselves. Developmental edge rushers are all well and good when you're in the middle of an exhaustive two-year rebuild, but now that the Bears are on the other side of that and looking more and more like a potential playoff contender, they're not going to have the time or patience to start a player who's coming along as slowly as Robinson has so far.
Josh Blackwell, CB
It seems like cornerback may be the most interesting position battle to watch when camp opens this summer? Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon have their roles secured, but after that things get interesting.
Tyrique Stevenson is listed by ESPN and Pro Football Focus as the other starting wide corner, but his stats were not overly impressive last season. On the other hand, Greg Stroman, Jaylon Jones, and Terrell Smith played well – albeit in limited roles – and could easily make a case for the CB3 gig. Stevenson's draft slot probably gives him a slight leg up, but it wouldn't be surprising to see someone push him for the job.
Unfortunately for Blackwell, he's probably just the odd man out. Last season didn't go well for the second-year player out of Duke, and it seems like he's destined to be one of those practice squad players who gets called up for the occasional game in a pinch.