Yesterday, we did a dive into which players on the Chicago Bears would be locks when things trimmed down to the final 53. We identified 41 players that we could not see getting cut at any point this offseason, meaning in all reality, there are probably 12 spots up for grabs from the final 49 players.
Of those players, we identified 25 who have the best chance to get to the top 12. We will go through each position and rank the players who have the best chance of making the roster.
Chicago Bears quarterback
1. Nathan Peterman (inside top 12)
Nathan Peterman has a better chance to make the roster than some fans realize. Bagent is probably viewed more like a project, and now that the team can keep three quarterbacks active on gameday, it will incentivize them to keep three on the 53 and then have a fourth waiting on the practice squad.
2. Tyson Bagent (outside top 12)
As we noted, the issue with Bagent is that he is more of a project coming from such a small school. Stil is competing with Nathan Peterman, and the team is likely to keep a third quarterback, so you have to keep him on the bubble, but he may be closer to 25 than 12 overall.
Chicago Bears running back
1. Travis Homer (inside top 12)
We cannot make Homer a lock for the roster quite yet, especially after how aggressively the Bears added running backs after signing him. Still, he is a solid pass protector, and he plays special teams, so he definitely will be entering training camp as one of the top 12 bubble players.
Chicago Bears wide receiver
1. Velus Jones (inside top 12)
A lot of people do not think that Velus Jones is on the bubble after his disastrous rookie season. He is probably one of the top 12 bubble players here, but he struggled to stay active as a rookie, and there are multiple new names above him now.
2. Equanimeous St. Brown
Velus Jones was actually behind St. Brown for the entirety of the 2022 season. This is why it is hard to make Jones a lock. We have four locks, and ESB is number two on the bubble, which means WR6. That is going to be right around that 12th or 13th player.
3. Dante Pettis (outside top 12)
Dante Pettis has not been able to practice much this week, and that has definitely hurt him. He is probably behind St. Brown and Jones and cannot prove that he is any better at the moment. This has him outside, before the preseason.
Chicago Bears tight end
1. Jake Tonges (inside top 12)
The Chicago Bears currently have just two tight ends that we listed as locks, so someone from this group has to make the roster. Tonges made it last year, and he has the ability to shuffle inside and play H-back if needed. If that is the case, he still gets the nod.
2. Chase Allen
As we noted with St. Brown, the roster spot of someone like Allen will come down to roster math and whether they want a sixth wide receiver, a fourth tight end, neither, or both.
Chicago Bears offensive line
1. Ja'Tyre Carter (inside top 12)
Ja'Tyre Carter is one of the closer players to being a lock. He appears to be locked into backup right guard duties, and he earned that spot last season. It is hard to see him being unseated, but we only locked in seven guys because we are unsure if the Bears keep anywhere from 9-11 linemen. Also, Lucas Patrick has gotten work at both guard spots, making any backup interior lineman expendable.
2. Dieter Eiselen
Dieter Eiselen heard his name in the starting center mix this offseason. He has focused primarily on center since the Bears brought Ryan Poles in, but he played guard with Ryan Pace. The versatility helps, but if he is just a third-string center behind Patrick, he may not make it.
3. Dough Kramer
The issue with Doug Kramer comes down to his injury and lack of position flexibility. He missed his entire rookie season, and he is a seventh-round pick. Also, he only plays center. As we noted, at least Eiselen could be the backup left guard on paper, with Patrick being the backup center and Carter at right guard. If Kramer is a third-string at center with no other position, then he is heading to the practice squad.
4. Alex Leatherwood
Alex Leatherwood is the backup right tackle on paper. Still, after how much of an issue he was on the field last year, and how quickly the coaches were to move on from him, you have to wonder if the team wants to keep him or if he really needs to play inspired to make the roster.
Chicago Bears defensive line
1. Terrell Lewis (inside top 12)
Terrell Lewis has turned heads this offseason and is closing in on lock status. However, the team has not put the pads on, and Lewis Is known for his injuries costing him more than his play. So, the team is excited but cautious.
2. Travis Bell (outside top 12)
Travis Bell was a seventh-round draft pick, but that does not lock him onto the roster this year. He will have to prove the team needs a fifth interior lineman because the four locked in above him are not moving. He is a small school player whom Ryan Poles bet on, so it may be easy to get him back to the practice squad.
3. Andrew Brown (outside top 12)
Andrew Brown was signed off of the Arizona Cardinals practice squad and got onto the field for the Bears in the closing games of the season. This is what has him on the bubble, and he has inside-outside versatility that the team likes, but he needs a strong summer to prove his worth.
4. Jalyn Holmes (outside top 12)
Jalyn Holmes has a similar story to Brown. He was signed off of another teams practice squad, and wound up getting some snaps late in the season. He is versatile, and could be a ninth or tenth lineman due to that. Still, he has work to do on the roster bubble.
Chicago Bears linebacker
1. Dylan Cole (inside top 12)
The Chicago Bears signed Dylan Cole this offseason from the Titans. He is a special teamer, but he did not get much in guarantees, and the room is stacked ahead of him, we have four locks as of now, so it is hard to say he is a lock until we see him a bit more with his new team.
2. DeMarquis Gates
Gates is going to be right on the edge. He has two paths to the roster. First, he could beat out Cole for LB5. Also, the Bears could keep six linebackers. They probably would in most cases, but the top five will be talented, so it will come down to the roster math and whether the team keeps six linebackers or not.
Chicago Bears cornerback
1. Josh Blackwell (inside top 12)
Josh Blackwell is close to a lock, but he was a UDFA rookie last season, and the team did add some serious depth at cornerback. What has Blackwell listed so high is that he is the only cornerback who could end up in the slot as well.
2. Kindle Vildor
Kindle Vildor went from a starter to the roster chopping block very quickly. That is what happens when the team drafts two cornerbacks. Vildor has hardly seen any first-team work, and he is going to have to prove he can make the roster via special teams.
3. Jaylon Jones
Jaylon Jones was a rookie UDFA last year, and he was thrown into the fire early. He did not play well but finished the season better than he started. He also proved himself on special teams, so Vildor is not a lock over him.
Chicago Bears safety
1. Kendall Williamson (inside top 12)
Kendall Williamson is a seventh-round rookie. Being a rookie draft pick gives him a nice leg up, but being just a seventh-round pick makes it tough to say he is a lock.
2. AJ Thomas
AJ Thomas started to make noise last season, especially on special teams by the end of the year. Still, he was a UDFA last year and only played when they needed him badly. He has a case to be made to make the roster, but drafting Williamson shows they wanted competition for Thomas. He will have to fight for his spot.
3. Adrian Colbert (outside top 12)
Adrian Colbert has bounced around the NFL, and he has made NFL rosters. His competition is beating out one of Thomas or Williamson. Those two are younger and most cost-controlled, but Colbert has a lot more experience, so he is at least on the edge of the bubble.
Chicago Bears bubble watch
Inside Top 12:
Nathan Peterman, Travis Homer, Velus Jones, Jake Tonges, Ja’Tyre Carter, Terell Lewis, Dylan Cole, Josh Blackwell, Kendall Williamson
Right now, we have nine players inside the top 12. This is the top half of the bubble, and these players should make it with a small win or two this summer.
Outside top 12:
Adrian Colbert, Andrew Brown Jalyn Holmes, Travis Bell, Dante Pettis, Tyson Bagent
It was tougher to firmly rule players out, we saw them on the bubble after all. However, there are only three spots after the players we see on the inner 12. So, with nine in the top 12 and six surely out, we still have nine players for the final three spots. They are:
AJ Thomas, Jaylon Jones, Kindle Vildor, DeMarquis Gates, Alex Leatherwood, Dieter Eiselen, Doug Kramer, Chase Allen Equanimeous St. Brown
These are the players in the middle of the bubble. Only three of them can make the roster. Who do you think has the best chance?