The Chicago Bears are entering into the thick of training camp, which means we're that much closer to real NFL games being played.
This is the most excitement Bears fans have felt in quite a while. With a star rookie quarterback, one of the draft's most exciting receivers, and a revamped ground game, things are looking up in the Windy City. While we know the team will have several new starters, there is still much to be sorted out with the bottom half of the roster.
Will all five of the Bears' 2024 draft picks play a role this season? Will any UDFAs make the team? Will any veterans be added to the team before week one, similarly to Yannick Ngakoue's last season?
Today, let's take a crack at predicting the final 53-man roster. Of course, several of these spots could change between now and September, but this will be the best guess based on what we know now.
Quarterback (2): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent
Well, there's no question who the starting QB will be in 2024. Caleb Williams, after being the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, will have all eyes on him when the Bears take the field against the Tennessee Titans to open the season.
Behind Williams, nothing is guaranteed. Bagent is a great story, making the roster in 2023 as a UDFA out of a Division II school. The QB will battle against Brett Rypien and 2024 UDFA Austin Reed for the backup job.
Rypien has four starts under his belt but has delivered mediocre results over that time. Reed is a friend of Williams's, which may help with his case. However, it appears more likely Reed is ticketed for the practice squad. It wouldn't be surprising to see the team add a veteran to mentor Williams. For now, Bagent has to be the favorite for the job.
Running back (5): D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Khalil Herbert, Travis Homer, Khari Blasingame (FB)
This running back room is the same as it was last season, except with D'Andre Swift in and D'Onta Foreman out. Swift is an elite pass-catcher out of the backfield and rushed for over 1,000 yards last season.
Johnson and Herbert are locks to make the roster. Johnson showed promise as a rookie and Herbert is a versatile back who's entering his fourth season with the club. Homer should be considered a favorite to earn the last RB spot due to his prowess on special teams.
Finally, the Bears are one of the few teams to keep a fullback. Blasingame is a great blocker and a weapon on special teams. This room has a little bit of everything.
Wide receiver (6): D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen, Tyler Scott, DeAndre Carter, Collin Johnson
Moore, Odunze, Allen, and Scott are locks. If Carter makes the team, it will be due to his abilities in the return game. Keeping Carter makes Velus Jones Jr. redundant, and Carter has proven more than Jones has. Odunze and Allen will give Moore the help he has desperately needed and should give the Bears one of the best WR trios in the league.
For the final spot, I'm going with Collin Johnson for now. The receiver has a massive frame and would give the team another potential red zone threat. This could easily change based on preseason performances, with Dante Pettis, Nsimba Webster, and Freddie Swain also vying for the spot. It also wouldn't be a surprise to see the final spot go to an outside addition before September.
Tight end (3): Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, Marcedes Lewis
The Bears added Gerald Everett in free agency, giving the team another receiving threat at TE. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron utilizes two-TE sets often, so expect Kmet and Everett to spend a lot of time on the field together.
The veteran Lewis inked another one-year deal with the Bears and still provides some of the best blocking from the TE position in the league.
Offensive line (9): Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Ryan Bates, Nate Davis, Darnell Wright, Larry Borom, Kiran Amegadjie, Ja'Tyre Carter, Coleman Shelton
Four of the five starting spots are locked up, with the center spot the one that is still a question. The team brought in Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton to compete, and the loser will make the team as a key reserve on the interior.
As far as the other reserves go, I have the team going with the rookie Amegadjie and the veteran Borom at tackle, with Carter at guard. Matt Pryor and/or Aviante Collins could snag that last spot from Borom, but continuity wins out for now.
Defensive line (5): Andrew Billings, Zacch Pickens, Gervon Dexter Sr., Michael Dwumfour, Keith Randolph Jr.
Billings, Pickens, and Dexter are locks and will see plenty of snaps. There will likely be one or two spots up for grabs, and for this exercise, I went with Dwumfour and the UDFA Randolph.
This position group will be one to watch closer to cut time. Expect the Bears to scour the waiver wire for a potential outside addition to this group. If that happens, Randolph could be bumped to the practice squad for his rookie season.
Edge rusher (4): Montez Sweat, DeMarcus Walker, Jacob Martin, Austin Booker
Sweat has dominated during his tenure with the Bears, but the veteran desperately needs help. The Bears are hoping the rookie Booker can contribute right away, and he should earn some reps from the jump.
Walker disappointed in his first season with the Bears, but a bounce back season is possible. Martin is a veteran who will rotate in and provide depth. This isn't the deepest group, but it could be just fine if Booker continues to impress.
Linebackers (5): T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, Jack Sanborn, Noah Sewell, Amen Ogbongbemiga
The linebacker room is one of the deepest position groups in Chicago. Edwards and Edmunds are an elite starting duo, and Sanborn has been a key contributor in three LB packages. Sewell and Ogbongbemiga will contribute to special teams.
This is a deep group that seems set already. Micah Baskerville could land a practice squad spot, but I don't see him beating out Ogbongbemiga for a roster spot.
Cornerback (6): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Terell Smith, Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones
Like linebacker, the corner room is deep and the starters are set. Smith was a fifth-round pick just last season and the Bears are hoping the corner takes a step forward. Blackwell should be kept around due to his experience in the slot, and Jones sticks around for another season as a special teams contributor.
The final spot will likely be between Jones and Greg Stroman Jr unless an outside addition is made. For now, Jones gets the spot.
Safeties (5): Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard III, Jonathan Owens, Elijah Hicks, Quindell Johnson
This is another position in which the starters are set. Brisker had another stellar campaign in 2023, and Byard has impressed in camp thus far.
Owens and Hicks are both capable of contributing on special teams or stepping in in three-safety sets. Tarvarius Moore can't be counted out, but Hicks and Johnson have the edge for now due to familiarity with the system.
Specialists (3): Cairo Santos (K), Tory Taylor (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
Santos has been incredibly reliable with the Bears, and the kicker was rewarded with an extension this offseason. Taylor was college football's best punter last season and was one of the Bears' few 2024 draft picks.
FInally, Scales was re-signed as well and will be the long snapper for at least one more season. Not much controversy here.