3 Bears players who could be cut before playing a snap

It is 100 percent safe to say the 2023 Chicago Bears are one of the league's most-improved teams going into the coming season compared to where they were a year ago.

General manager Ryan Poles was given a tough task a year and a half ago, with an aging roster and difficult cap situation. But, he's navigated it well and turned this roster on its head. The Bears now look like they could be a relatively competitive football team this coming season.

But, before the Bears kick off Week 1, they're going to have some hard decisions when it comes to the roster. However, with those hard decisions will come some easier ones. There will be some players who see their name cut from the roster without even getting much of a chance to prove their worth.

We look at three of them, in particular.

Michael Ojemudia, CB

Cornerback should be a vastly-improved position for the Bears this season, and it's mostly thanks to the team drafting Tyrique Stevenson in the second round. Now, veteran Jaylon Johnson has a viable starter next to him and the Bears have a rookie who can cover all types and sizes of wide receivers.

Last year's second-round pick Kyler Gordon checks in as the starting nickel, where he looks to get even more comfortable this season.

Behind Johnson, Gordon and Stevenson is veteran Kindle Vildor, who was a whole lot better in 2022 than anyone may have thought he'd be. The veteran started last year, but now becomes a valuable reserve for this Bears defense.

Then, there is rookie Terrell Smith out of Minnesota as the fourth outside corner and fifth overall. If the Bears keep six corners, it likely comes down to veterans Greg Stroman Jr. and Jaylon Jones. That might be a toss-up, but the very last corner on the roster is Michael Ojemudia, who does not stand much of a chance to make that final cut.