The Chicago Bears usually don’t hatch big surprises during final cuts of the roster. That was definitely not the case this time around. While the exit of 6th round receiver Dazz Newsome was a shock in itself, by far the biggest stunner of the deadline was the purge they conducted at the cornerback position. No fewer than five players saw their contracts terminated at that spot.
Among them were some puzzlers including 6th round rookie Thomas Graham, veteran Desmond Trufant, and preseason standout Tre Roberson. Artie Burns and Dionte Ruffin were the two others.
That leaves the Bears with an astounding four cornerbacks on their roster. While some will think the team has lost their minds, this speaks to just how low their opinions are of the depth chart. Nobody outside of Jaylon Johnson performed well in the preseason.
It’s clear Sean Desai and his staff weren’t impressed with any of them. While it remains possible they might bring one back in the next couple of days, this signals the Bears might be aggressive on the waiver wire for outside help. Let’s explore some interesting names that are available.
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Here are some options the Chicago Bears should look into
Jimmy Moreland (Washington)
This was one of the bigger surprises of the afternoon of final cuts. Moreland, a former 7th round pick, had a solid 2020 season for one of the best defenses in the NFL. He had one interception and opposing quarterbacks had a 74.1 passer rating when targeting him in coverage. He played most of his snaps from the slot. A position the Bears have a serious need. While he is dealing with a minor knee injury, expectations are he’ll be ready for the regular season.
Nickell Robey-Coleman (Detroit)
The 29-year old had been one of the steadiest and most dependable nickel corners in the NFL between 2016 and 2019. Passer ratings when throwing at him were never higher than 84.5. Then for whatever reason, he struggled in 2020 with Philadelphia. It isn’t clear if something healthwise is going on or if the Lions just didn’t have a place for him. He is the sort of calculated risk that might be worth taking.
Cre’Von LeBlanc (Miami)
Bears fans will know the name well. LeBlanc first became a notable NFL cornerback in Chicago, playing some nice games for the team back in 2016. Since then he’s bounced around the league, having some limited success in Philadelphia two years ago. The Dolphins were loaded at cornerback so his odds of sticking were never high. He has familiarity with the Chicago Bears’ system and might be a steadier option compared to anybody else they have in the slot.
Cam Lewis (Buffalo)
An undrafted free agent in 2020, he didn’t do much for a loaded Bills secondary as a rookie. This preseason though he seemed to take a considerable step forward. People close to the team spoke highly of both his training camp and preseason performances. What is most interesting about him is his versatility, showing an ability to line up both inside and outside. He also tackles well. He might be worth a closer look.
Herb Miller III (Tampa Bay)
Another team that has done a great job stockpiling corners. Miller has looked sharp in the limited opportunities he’s gotten with the Buccaneers. Between the regular season last year and the preseason this year, he’s allowed four catches on six targets for just 26 yards and two interceptions. Miller started his career in Kansas City, so that is a connection that can’t be ignored.
Kabion Ento (Green Bay)
Like it or not, the Packers have done a strong job scouting cornerbacks in recent years. Ento is an interesting story as he actually played wide receiver in college. He shifted to corner when he got to the NFL. Despite this, he impressed Green Bay enough to hang around for three offseasons. It looked like 2021 was his best preseason performance to date with an interception and a 35.9 passer rating when targeted. Sadly, there were too many bodies ahead of him.
