This could end up being the most engaging and competitive series of Chicago Bears position battles we’ve seen in years. We’re talking Game of Thrones levels of jockeying for position and power. GM Ryan Pace has assembled a roster that is not only laden with stars. It now has a considerable amount of depth.
So much so that it’s becoming more likely that a number of players who would’ve been locks a year ago might suddenly find themselves out of a job by the start of September. That’s how crowded it’s become. This may not be comfortable for the players, but it is exactly where Pace wanted things to be.
Competition brings out the best in athletes and the Bears have created it across their roster. The question is who will be left standing when the smoke finally clears? These will be the positions where the fighting will be the bloodiest.
Chicago Bears position battles that will be the most fierce
#5: Running back
The entire position was basically blown up and rebuilt almost from scratch. Jordan Howard was traded. Benny Cunningham left in free agency. Tarik Cohen is the only one left. He is joined by veteran Mike Davis, fresh off a career year in Seattle. It only starts with them though.
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Chicago completely reshaped their backfield by trading up to get David Montgomery in the 3rd round. He was later joined by speedy Kerrith Whyte in the 7th. Those two are added to a mix that still includes Taquan Mizzell and Ryan Nall. All names that should not be overlooked.
#4: Cornerback
The Bears will be rolling into the season with their top three spot secured. Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara will man the outside with Buster Skrine taking over for Bryce Callahan in the slot. What they need to figure out is how the remain three spots will work out.
One should think veteran Sherrick McManis gets one due to his special teams value. That leaves two left for a host of young bucks. Kevin Toliver and Michael Joseph will be joined by 6th round pick Duke Shelley and 7th round pick Stephen Denmark to figure out the formula for their back end.
#3: Edge Rusher
The top of the depth chart is relatively set with Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, and a returning Aaron Lynch. Where the Bears have fewer answers is the back end. Isaiah Irving and former 6th round pick Kyle Fitts did little to prove they can contribute much on the field.
Thus the Bears went out and signed a slew of undrafted players. A few like Mathieu Betts of Laval and Chuck Harris of Buffalo who have intriguing flashes on tape. Talent worth exploring. With a new defensive coordinator in charge, their odds of swiping a roster spot are higher than normal.
#2: Kicker
As if this is any surprise. The Bears made their intention clear even before the draft. Cody Parkey was cut. In his place they added no less than three kickers in Redford Jones, Chris Blewitt, and Elliott Fry from the AAF. Still, expectations were they weren’t done adding bodies.
Sure enough, shortly after the draft, they scooped up lefty John Baron from San Diego State. That’s not all either. Emmit Carpenter (Minnesota), Casey Bednarski (MN ST-Mankato), Spencer Evans (Purdue), and Alex Kjellsten (McNeese State) will all get tryouts at the team’s rookie minicamps in early May. They truly are leaving no stone unturned.
#1: Wide Receiver
Going into the draft, nobody expected the Bears to do much with the wide receiver position. Adding Cordarrelle Patterson felt like the extent of their moves. It seems people were kidding themselves. In the space of two days they added two more intriguing pieces to the mix in 4th round pick Riley Ridley and undrafted free agent Emanuel Hall.
With the top four spots on the depth chart largely locked up, there is going to be a massive race to grab the final two. Joining Ridley and Hall will be Javon Wims, Marvin Hall, Tanner Gentry, Cyril Grayson, and Jordan Williams-Lambert. It feels like somebody unexpected will be left off the roster, which is a crazy thing to consider for Bears wide receivers.
