The Chicago Bears, like every other team, will only be as strong as their weakest link. Having really good players at key positions is important. However, to win championships a team must be strong in some sense at every position. It is a team sport after all. This has been a persistent issue that has plagued them for years. Every time they get one position figured out, another seems to disintegrate.
So it’s time to take stock again. With the primary sections of the offseason in the rearview mirror, where do the Bears stand going into 2021? This will be a positional rankings piece, exploring what makes certain parts of the roster strong and others a little concerning. Is this a team capable of making the playoffs or is there still a lot of work to do?
Let’s find out.
Eddie Goldman man 😳💪 pic.twitter.com/Hdc94CPkWZ
— Olin kreutz (@olin_kreutz) October 1, 2019
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Chicago Bears position by position rankings for 2021
#1 – Defensive line
Despite losing Roy Robertson-Harris and Brent Urban this offseason, the Bears managed to maintain strength across the board on their defensive front. Akiem Hicks remains a fixture at defensive end. Bilal Nichols is coming into his own. Best of all, Eddie Goldman returns from his 2020 hiatus. That is a formidable starting trio. As for the depth? It isn’t looking too bad either. Mario Edwards Jr. returns after his solid performance last year. Veteran Angelo Blackson arrived from Arizona after a decent year. Last but not least, rookie 7th rounder Khyiris Tonga slots in behind Goldman in the middle. A strong, versatile, and deep group.
#2 – Running back
Last year the position had serious problems. Outside of David Montgomery, the Bears really didn’t have another proven runner they could rely on. That has changed drastically over the past few months. Tarik Cohen will return from his knee injury last year. Joining the fun is Damien Williams, former Super Bowl hero for the Kansas City Chiefs. So he has some proven experience under his belt. Then there is Khalil Herbert, a 6th round pick out of Virginia Tech who exhibits strength, acceleration, and vision made for this type of offense. They are four-deep now at the position. Never a bad thing.
#3 – Offensive line
This was actually a bit of a surprise placement. Yet when looking at the lineup, it’s actually better than some might think. Much of that due to their deep interior group. Cody Whitehair really seemed to blossom at left guard late in 2020 while Sam Mustipher looked quite comfortable at center. James Daniels is also returning and was playing his best football prior to his unfortunate pectoral injury. One also can’t exclude Alex Bars as a strong #3 guard. Tackle has a promising new talent in Teven Jenkins along with somewhat underappreciated Germain Ifedi on the right side. Behind them are Elijah Wilkinson and Larry Borom. It’s a group with a nice mix of experience and youthful ability.
Khalil Mack flips over the OL after getting a sack 😳
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/QW1SIVAeIv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 9, 2020
#4 – Outside linebacker
Much of this is courtesy of Khalil Mack still be an absolute beast. Don’t be fooled by the sack total. He changes games with his mere presence. After him? There are still reasons for optimism. Robert Quinn didn’t have the 2020 season anybody hoped for, but he improved down the stretch and should be healthy going into this year. New addition Jeremiah Attaochu is a good rotational pass rusher. Trevis Gipson still has promise going into his second year and one should not look past talented undrafted free agent Charles Snowden either. It is a group with a lot of potential.
#5 – Inside linebacker
This position might feature the second-best player on the entire Bears defense. That is how good Roquan Smith was in 2020. He was literally everywhere with tackles, sacks, and interceptions. It was impossible to avoid him. The man should’ve made All-Pro. Danny Trevathan may not quite be what he was a few years ago but he is still a smart, capable veteran who should be good for 100 tackles again this season. Joel Iyiegbuniwe remains a special teams fixture as a reserve. Perhaps the most underrated addition this offseason was Christian Jones who should be a nice primary backup.
#6 – Safety
People jumped on Eddie Jackson last year for his baffling lack of interceptions. While understandable, it doesn’t mean he suddenly became a bad safety. He is still a good player and should rebound in 2021 as the team shifts back to the Vic Fangio-style system under Sean Desai. Rejoining him is veteran Tashaun Gipson who played well last year, leading the team with two interceptions and making an assortment of other nice plays. In reserve Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Marqui Christian, and Jordan Lucas all bring a perfect mix of special teams prowess and defensive experience.
happy friday everyone, just a reminder that @justnfields did this to a Brent Vendables defense.😉 pic.twitter.com/asjoqkDkLs
— Chance 👑 (@StroudEra) May 28, 2021
#7 – Quarterback
From a talent and experience perspective? The Chicago Bears quarterback position is leagues better than it was last season. Andy Dalton is a former three-time Pro Bowler who showed in Dallas he can still be productive. Justin Fields has a case for being the most physically gifted quarterback in the 2021 draft class. Just big, strong, fast, and boasting plenty of arm prowess. Nick Foles? While he may not have worked out last year, he is a definite upgrade over Tyler Bray as a third-string quarterback. While this group is unproven, it has considerably more upside than previous incarnations.
#8 – Wide receiver
Here’s one thing the Bears know for sure. Allen Robinson is a stud. Here’s something they also know. He might not be here in 2022. Darnell Mooney flashed a ton of promise as a rookie last season. Beyond those two? The names are intriguing but also come with question marks. Anthony Miller with his ongoing inconsistency. Marquise Goodwin with his well-documented health issue. Damiere Byrd had one decent year in New England. Javon Wims and Riley Ridley haven’t proven much of anything since they were drafted. Sixth round pick Dazz Newsome has nice upside but this group is devoid of many proven commodities.
Chicago drafted a human highlight reel
Dazz Newsome, UNC WR🔥
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 1, 2021
#9 – Cornerback
No position was hit harder by the offseason on this Bears roster than cornerback. They lost two of their three starters from last year in Kyle Fuller and Buster Skrine. While Jaylon Johnson is still around, he is marked by concerning health issues regarding his shoulders. Something that followed him from college and resurfaced late in 2020. Desmond Trufant arrived from Detroit. He was really good at one point in his career but also has a recent history of health problems. Beyond them, it’s a mix of interesting youngsters like Kindle Vildor, Thomas Graham Jr., Duke Shelley, Tre Roberson, and Artie Burns.
#10 – Tight end
Jimmy Graham was a pleasant surprise last season, catching nine touchdowns. Rookie Cole Kmet showed himself to be a solid blocker and had some nice receiving moments as well. The problem is Graham turns 35 this year and Kmet still has a long way to go before he can be considered a viable pass-catching threat. After those two? The depth gets really thin with guys like J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted, and Darion Clark. One injury creates a serious problem at that position. It makes one curious if the Chicago Bears brass might be thinking about another move at tight end before the regular season arrives.
