The NFL draft can be such a joyous occasion for so many, as they finally get to live out their dreams in the NFL. However, for the veterans, this can be a weekend where your job is on the line. Players from the Chicago Bears will tune in and some will see the team draft a player at their position.
Who are five Chicago Bears that may feel good about their standing right now, but undoubtedly will be interested to see how the team addresses their position in the 2023 NFL draft?
5. Will Larry Borom lose his starting job for the Chicago Bears?
We have barely talked about it, but right now Larry Borom is the starting right tackle for the Chicago Bears. It is all but assumed that he will be replaced at this point, but if the draft does not break their way, they are starting Borom.
If the Chicago Bears do not go with a tackle at nine, the possibilities really start to open up. Sure, they have multiple picks in the top 75 and could find some help there, but if you are a tackle and did not go in the first round, there is a good reason, and it is not a lock that the rookie will start.
So, needless to say, Borom will be watching intently during the first round. Do they draft someone who is an obvious replacement, or do they draft someone who is the competition? That is the real question. Also, do they draft a left tackle, meaning that his competition is actually Braxton Jones?
It will be a great day for whoever is drafted, but Larry Borom could be in for a stressful weekend.
4. Did Chicago Bears sign Travis Homer to replace him
When the Chicago Bears signed Travis Homer it did not move the needle for fans. It is fair to say that of the three backs in the three-man committee, Homer is the most likely to lose his job come draft weekend.
All three backs have their specific roles, so if the Chicago Bears do draft a running back, the style of that runner will matter. If they draft someone who is not involved in the passing game, then you can assume that Homer will keep his job. While Homer is not known, that is because he spends 81% of his snaps on passing downs, and more often than not he is blocking, not running a route.
So, if the Bears do draft someone, they need to make sure that he can compete with Homer as a pass protector, but then bring more with the ball in their hands. Considering they probably will not try to make an addition like this until day three, it is fair to think that Homer could walk away from the weekend unscathed.
The Chicago Bears have bigger issues than replacing their pass-blocking back, or any of their running backs for that matter. Travis Homer is a player that could easily see things break his way. He also could see the team add a pass catcher in round four, and realize that he probably will be on the border of the roster come training camp.
3. What do Chicago Bears really think of Trevis Gipson?
It is clear the Chicago Bears wanted to see something out of Trevis Gipson when they traded Robert Quinn halfway through last year. It set up Gipson with a shot to lead the edge group in snaps and prove that he can hang.
He was not just bad, he was one of the worst defenders in the league on the edge. This was stunning because he was solid in a rotation, but once attention shifted to him and he had to carry the load, he was blanked. It does bring a real question of whether the Bears see any future with him.
When you break down the edge group, both Rasheem Green and DeMarcus Walker are going to start over Trevis Gipson. Dominique Robinson was behind Gipson last year, but this is his second season, so you could expect a bit of a rise.
Beyond that, Robinson is a Ryan Poles draft pick, and Gipson is someone they inherited. Gipson has one more year on his rookie deal and then he is gone. He may not even make the roster if the Bears draft an edge rusher or two, let alone get an extension offer. Gipson also could be a player who is traded during training camp before cutdowns.
So, this will be a weekend that determines his future. If the Bears draft a mid-round edge rusher, he will be in the mix to compete. If they draft someone in round two, Gipson has to feel his seat getting hot. If they draft multiple edge rushers, we should be looking for the Trevis Gipson trade for a conditional pick.
2. Could Chicago Bears replace Kindle Vildor in 2023 NFL draft?
Most people assume the Chicago Bears will pass on a cornerback in the 2023 NFL draft. That is because they plan to extend Jaylon Johnson and they just drafted Kyler Gordon. However, in three cornerback sets, that does leave Kindle Vildor.
To be fair to Vildor, he has his ups to go with the downs and is not a complete liability. Between Gipson and Vildor, Gipson became the bigger liability. Still, like Gipson, this is a day-three pick from Ryan Pace, and he is only here because Poles knows the salary is too cheap and the depth is too valuable.
Does he see starter upside with Kindle Vildor, or is he just waiting to move on? The team also has UDFAs Jaylon Jones and Josh Blackwell in the mix. They flashed in spurts, and the reality is that while they are just depth, it does open up the chance to completely move on from Vildor if they add the right cornerback.
If they take a cornerback at nine, Vildor is gone. If they wait until day two, it will be a debate, and if they go on day three, then it is Jones and Blackwell competing to keep their jobs. Of course, the Chicago Bears could pass on cornerback, and we could assume those five players are locks. We will find out on draft weekend.
1. Do Chicago Bears really trust Cody Whitehair?
When Ryan Poles said that Cody Whitehair would be the answer at center, it sent signals up that the team is likely to draft a center. Ryan Poles is open and honest, but he was short and cut things off after saying that they talked to Whitehair about moving back to center.
That is because Poles knows that while it is true that Whitehair is the current plan at center, he knows this is not a real long-term solution. If they are going to find that type of solution, it probably will have to come via the NFL Draft. The question is, how high do they draft a center, and how does that impact Whitehair?
If they draft someone like Joe Tippmann, it could be a moment like Charles Leno after Teven Jenkins was drafted. The Chicago Bears could save $10M to move on from Whitehair, and may elect to do that if they can draft a day-one starter. At the same time, they could draft someone with the intention of sitting them behind Whitehair.
If Whitehair gets injured or his play declines, they can make the move, or they can make it next year. At some point the Chicago Bears will add a lineman who impacts the future of Whitehair. We will soon find out how high they take one, and what that means for his short and long-term plans with the team.