Bears early roster projection and ranking the positions by concern level

Bears early roster projection and ranking the positions by concern level
Bears early roster projection and ranking the positions by concern level By Adam Jahns May 31, 2022

In the opening of the Bears’ latest episode of “1920 Football Drive,” the team featured general manager Ryan Poles’ phone call to cornerback Kyler Gordon on the second day of the NFL draft.

“You know,” Poles says, “we’re trying to build something special here and we think you can help us get that done.”

“Most definitely,” Gordon replies. “I would love to get the job done.”

As the first draft pick of Poles/Matt Eberflus era, Gordon has a special place in the plan that the Bears’ new regime is implementing. But he’s the starting point. Poles’ work is far from done. A quick glance at the Bears roster will tell you that. In ascending order, here are my positional rankings in terms of concern, along with an early 53-man roster projection.

10. Running backs

Poles said long ago at the NFL Scouting Combine that he liked the Bears’ running backs room, and it’s easy to agree with him. He potentially improved that room with the Day 3 selection of Trestan Ebner, who is familiar with the outside zone and can fill in as a returner.

It’s also important to remember that Poles said a better run game should help quarterback Justin Fields. The addition of fullback Khari Blasingame is part of that. David Montgomery has the potential to be a workhorse, but Khalil Herbert showed last season that he can fill in well.

The only lingering question is whether Poles views Montgomery as a core player worth another contract. He continues to win his new coaches over.

“The thing I like about David is he doesn’t feel like he’s arrived yet,” new running backs coach David Walker said. “Some of the guys that have been in the league for a while think they have arrived. He’s trying to learn from his standpoint. … I really like his makeup in terms of wanting to get better, pushing himself to get better. He has high standards, and we are going to do everything we can to reach those standards on a daily basis.”

Early roster prediction (5): David Montgomery, Khalil Herbert, Trestan Ebner, Khari Blasingame, Darrynton Evans

Rookie safety Jaquan Brisker is off to an impressive start with the Bears. (Robin Alam / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 9. Defensive backs

Before the draft, holes at cornerback and safety were obvious concerns for the Bears. That changed after Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker were drafted in the second round.

The early returns on them are encouraging and promising. The Bears not only drafted two players capable of starting immediately, but they’ve produced quickly in their first NFL practices. They lead the defense in takeaways.

Mistakes will happen for Gordon and Brisker. They will get beat over the course of the season. But that’s where cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Eddie Jackson come in.

Eberflus’ ability to challenge the two veterans to maximize their talents will be worth tracking from now until the end of the season. Johnson’s progress already has become a storyline.

On paper, the Bears’ secondary looks better equipped for the rigors of a pass-happy league than it did last year at this point in the offseason program.

Early roster prediction (10): CB — Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor; NB — Tavon Young, Thomas Graham Jr., Duke Shelley; S — Jaquan Brisker, Eddie Jackson, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Elijah Hicks

8. Linebackers

In the long term, this is a position that will be addressed. But for 2022, there are more problematic positions. Roquan Smith is the best player on the roster, while Nicholas Morrow, Matt Adams and Joe Thomas have experience in this defensive system. Adams played for Eberflus in Indianapolis.

Similar to Montgomery, Smith needs a new contract. He’s set to play this season on his fifth-year option worth $9.735 million.

Poles indicated earlier that contract conversations would happen at some point. Eberflus also said in April during voluntary minicamp that Smith’s leadership skills were standing out, whether it was calling the plays or just his attitude.

“He’s very positive, an upbeat person and that’s the way he’s been the whole time,” Eberfus said. “I always say this to the guys that you are a yes-we-can type of guy. So that means when they look at you, they look and say, ‘Yes, we can.’ And that’s what he does. That’s the kind of guy he is and that’s the kind of attitude he exudes.”

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Early roster prediction (5): Roquan Smith, Nicholas Morrow, Matt Adams, Joe Thomas, Caleb Johnson

7. Specialists

The Bears waived veteran punter Ryan Winslow on May 17, which essentially made seventh-round pick Trenton Gill the winner of a competition that was never had. As Poles said, the Bears liked Gill enough to use a draft pick on him instead of getting into a free-agency bidding war for him after the draft.

Gill has two veterans to lean on in kicker Cairo Santos and long snapper Patrick Scales. There were moments in OTAs when Santos showed Gill how he wanted the ball held. Keeping Santos on track is important, of course. He has made 89.1 percent of his field goals with the Bears.

Early roster prediction (3): kicker Cairo Santos, long snapper Patrick Scales, punter Trenton Gill

6. Quarterbacks

What Fields does and doesn’t do well always will be a concern and a story, whether it’s now during OTAs or later in the regular season. For now, here are a few reasons for optimism:

No. 1: He’s starting the offseason program as the unquestioned No. 1 quarterback. It will result in vastly more snaps in practice than he received last year at this time. It also became clear last season that the Bears’ plan for Fields — if you want to call it that — was flawed in many ways.

No. 2: In Luke Getsy, the Bears have an offensive coordinator who has experience in a system that has proved it can transcend quarterback play but also one who has said multiple times that he’ll tailor his offensive scheme and strategy to what Fields does best.

No. 3: Eberflus’ place in Fields’ development could have significant value. It’s not only their relationship, but his defensive expertise. Eberflus said that he’s sitting in on all quarterback meetings. He’s providing the perspective of a defensive coordinator when applicable.

Early roster prediction (2): Justin Fields, Trevor Siemian

5. Tight ends

The days of Matt Nagy’s “U” tight end are done. But the position remains important. Cole Kmet referenced by name what George Kittle and Robert Tonyan have done for the 49ers and Packers, respectively, and also what the Vikings have done in the past.

With an emphasis on the run, Kmet’s value increases in this offense. He’s a capable blocker, but he also becomes a threat via play action.

“You can see how tight ends can get really involved in this offense,” Kmet said.

Kmet arguably fits this offensive system better than what Nagy projected for Kmet after he was selected in the second round in 2020. But you still get a sense from Kmet that he’s eager to live up to expectations set for him back then.

“I don’t like to put numbers on things because there’s only so much you can control,” Kmet said. “But for me, it’s just every day, meeting the standard here. Coaches set a standard, meet the standard, and I think things will take care of (themselves).”

Early roster prediction (3): Cole Kmet, Ryan Griffin, James O’Shaughnessy

The Bears’ Robert Quinn tackles 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel for a loss. (Dennis Wierzbicki / USA Today) 4. Defensive ends

Eberflus produced top-10 defenses in Indianapolis without top-tier pass rushers. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, his three-technique tackle, led the team with seven sacks last season. Al-Quadin Muhammad, now with the Bears, had six.

So what can Eberflus get out of Robert Quinn, who had 18 1/2 sacks last season? Or here’s another question: Will he still be on the team when the season starts or when it ends?

Poles said earlier this offseason that he wasn’t exploring trades for Quinn. He does fit what the Bears want to do defensively. But Poles’ long-term plan is more important than any short-term success this season. If he can get a draft pick for Quinn, Poles should do it.

After Quinn and Muhammad, the Bears have work to do with Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson, one of the Bears’ two fifth-round picks this year. Defensive line coach Travis Smith had plenty of good things to say about them during OTAs last week. Then there’s Charles Snowden, who has athletic traits similar to Robinson. He intrigues the Bears.

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“I know one of the first things he did was he put, I think, 12 to 15 good pounds on,” Smith said of Snowden. “So he’s filled out and he’s been working his tail off to play with his hand in the dirt, play both closed and open side end and rush the passer. He’s been working his tail off.”

Early roster prediction (5): Robert Quinn, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Trevis Gipson, Dominique Robinson, Charles Snowden

3. Defensive line

The Bears appear to have few concerns about the position. There are only nine defensive linemen listed on the roster and two of them — Muhammad and Robinson — are defensive ends.

Poles and Eberflus made signing a three-technique tackle a priority in free agency. But Justin Jones still was their Plan B after Larry Ogunjobi failed his physical.

The Bears’ best linemen after Jones all arrived under Nagy and former GM Ryan Pace.

Early roster prediction (5): Justin Jones, Angelo Blackson, Mario Edwards, Khyiris Tonga, LaCale London

2. Offensive line

Poles believes he increased the competition on his offensive line after drafting four on Day 3. There are 16 linemen on the roster and three of the five projected starters up front — tackles Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom and left guard Cody Whitehair — are holdovers.

Poles would love to see Jenkins and Borom excel in their second seasons. The previous regime was excited about what they had in Jenkins and Borom. To some extent, Poles appears to view them favorably, too. If he didn’t, the Bears’ moves in free agency and the draft might have played out differently.

Jenkins, the 39th pick last year, is the one to watch. He not only fits the athletic profile Poles wants — he’s down to 325 pounds after weighing 345 — but he possesses the nasty demeanor he wants. Jenkins’ first season was derailed by back surgery.

“I have no thought about my back,” Jenkins said. “I trust everything that goes into it, especially the Pilates part. Making my core strong. As soon as you have your core strong, all of that takes away from any back pain you might have. I’m not worried about the back at all.”

As for the rest of the line, Poles’ draft picks should have an edge over other players. Right guard remains wide-open. Sam Mustipher and Dakota Dozier rotated with the starters during the open OTAs.

Early roster prediction (9): Larry Borom, Cody Whitehair, Lucas Patrick, Sam Mustipher, Teven Jenkins, Braxton Jones, Zachary Thomas, Doug Kramer, Ja’Tyre Carter

1. Wide receivers

Receiver was a concern before free agency and the draft, and it remains one. After Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle and Velus Jones Jr., it’s really anyone’s guess who makes the roster.

Equanimeous St. Brown has connections to Getsy coming from Green Bay, while Chris Finke, who was claimed off waivers, was signed by Poles and the Chiefs last year.

Nsimba Webster’s speed has the Bears’ attention. He also has experience in a similar scheme, previously playing for the Rams.

But this exercise can go on. Veteran Dante Pettis played for receivers coach Tyke Tolbert last year with the Giants.

The Bears need one or two receivers to surprise everyone this season. It could be Jones, whose speed has stood out early in OTAs.

“When you run 4.31, it’ll open up your eyes to a lot of things,” Tolbert said. “But secondly, with the ball in his hands, he does a lot of things, makes a lot of explosive plays.

“And the last thing I would say is playing multiple positions. You can play him in the slot, put him outside, have him coming out of the backfield. He does a lot of different things to help our team, and he’s really good on special teams.”

Early roster prediction (6): Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, Velus Jones Jr., Equanimeous St. Brown, Nsimba Webster, Chris Finke

(Top photo of Velus Jones Jr.: Robin Alam / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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