3 stock up Chicago Bears after initial depth chart release
1. D'anthony Jones, Greg Stroman, AJ Thomas and Aviante Collins are winning small battles for the Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears saw some underrated names winning depth battles at key positions as well. As we noted, D'Anthony Jones is ahead of Trevis Gipson. He is still a third-string player right now, so his chances of making the roster remain low. However, he now appears to be a practice squad lock if he does not fall flat in the preseason.
Greg Stroman was ahead of names such as Kindle Vildor, Jaylon Jones, and Michael Ojemudia. This is significant because the Bears may be able to keep a sixth cornerback. If that is the case, right now, it would be Greg Stroman. Special teams and the preseason will dictate this, but last season, Stroman was behind both Jones and Vildor.
AJ Thomas is ahead of rookie seventh-round pick Kendall Williamson and veteran Adrian Colbert. One, and maybe two of those three, will make the roster as the fourth and fifth safety. Thomas was a UDFA last year, who obviously left an impression, and now has a shot to make the roster as a backup.
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Aviante Collins is listed as the backup right tackle. As we noted, Leatherwood being able to play guard and tackle may push him over Collins, but Collins essentially pushed Leatherwood out of tackle, and inside to guard. They have to question their depth at tackle when you think that Darnell Wright is a rookie, and Braxton Jones was inconsistent last season, so Collins may stick around as a fourth option.