4. Two former Chicago Bears draft picks are ascending
The Chicago Bears threw darts at the wall at the end of the 2022 NFL draft. They drafted four linemen on day three, hoping for one and maybe two can stick. Braxton Jones became the starter at left tackle, a huge win. Zach Thomas was cut and found a home elsewhere, but now Doug Kramer and Ja'Tyre Carter are starting to come into their own. They could make it three of the four linemen to end up a success.
Carter has been getting all kinds of work thanks to injuries above him. Nate Davis has been in-and-out and has not played in the preseason, while Lucas Patrick has struggled to stay on the field since the Chicago Bears drafted him. With both of them down, Carter excelled.
Patrick being hurt also gave Doug Kramer a chance to climb up the center depth chart. Cody Whitehair is banged up now, too, so Kramer is the best option at center currently on the roster. Both Kramer and Carter started and played into the second half of preseason week two. They were two of the best linemen out there.
Carter looks like he belongs, and Kramer has shown growth after missing his rookie season. Both of them are rising with a few weeks to go in the preseason. Is there a chance that either or both makes Lucas Patrick expendable?