Despite having a roster that is loaded with talent, the Chicago Bears have several key positions that will have competitions for starting gigs. And while organized team activities will not be able to provide any opportunities for players to stand out, the NFL remains hopeful that training camps can go on as planned.
The Bears, on paper, figure to have one of the league’s best defenses. Names like Eddie Jackson, Khalil Mack, and Akiem Hicks headline Chuck Pagano’s defense, but there is one position in particular that will be intriguing to monitor.
Elsewhere on offense, the Bears will have several battles for roster spots, including quarterback, wide receiver and tight end.
Let’s take a look at the three most exciting roster competitions to watch heading into training camp.
Cornerback
Kyle Fuller is a lock for the CB1 position, but after cutting ties with Prince Amukamara this offseason, there remains a level of uncertainty on the opposite site of the field. Not long after Amukamara was cut, the Bears were swift to add CFL-standout Tre Roberson.
While the talent level doesn’t exactly translate, Roberson collected seven interceptions and 41 tackles in 16 games last year. The former Indiana and Illinois State quarterback switched positions and tried out for the Minnesota Vikings as a cornerback. The Bears’ division rivals wound up signing Roberson but cut him in before the 2017 season.
General manager Ryan Pace also added Artie Burns to the fold, who overlapped with Deon Bush at the University of Miami. He spent his first four years in the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers, starting nine games as a rookie. His snap count on the defensive side decreased every year, and the Steelers declined his fifth-year option. Still just 25 years old, Burns tallied four interceptions and 27 pass deflections during his time in Pittsburgh.
Widely considered to be one of the steals of the draft, Jaylon Johnson may be the front-runner for the starting job. The former Utah-standout played in 37 games during his three years on campus, collecting seven interceptions and 21 pass deflections.
Wide Receiver
After saying goodbye to Taylor Gabriel earlier this offseason, the Bears were desperately thin at wide receiver. Allen Robinson is undoubtedly the team’s number one receiver, despite what Ryan Clark believes, but after that is where things become unclear.
Anthony Miller had a tremendous rookie year, in which he hauled in seven touchdowns despite being hampered by a separated shoulder. He was expected to take the next step in 2019, but while his yardage increase, he crossed the goal line just twice.
Cordarrelle Patterson was signed to a two-year deal, but his best year at wide receiver came as a rookie way back in 2013. And he may end up being better served as a backup running back, who can carry the ball 10-15 times a game to spell David Montgomery.
So it made sense that Pace added both Ted Ginn Jr. and Darnell Mooney in free agency and the draft, respectively. Ginn is the 35-year-old veteran, and he’s indicated that his speed remains intact. He’s three years removed from an 800-yard season with the Saints, and the Bears are hoping he can recreate that.
And with nearly an identical 40-time, Mooney is the Ginn protege. At Tulane, Mooney posted back-to-back 48 reception seasons. In his junior year, he nearly accumulated 1,000 yards to go along with eight touchdowns and a 20.7 yards-per-catch average. Last year, his numbers dipped slightly, to the tune of 713 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
The Bears will also need to figure out what they have in Javon Wims and Riley Ridley.
Tight End
A week before the NFL Draft, the Bears released Trey Burton. The oft-injured and unproductive tight end was signed to a lucrative four-year deal after the 2017 season, but he failed to live up to the hype. The Bears signed Jimmy Graham, but it remains unclear what he has left in the tank.
Taken with the team’s first pick in the draft, Cole Kmet looks like a starter from day one, but expectations should be tempered for his production as a rookie. That said, the Bears have several players behind Graham and Kmet at the position, and it’s difficult to discern who will emerge from the pack.
Ben Braunecker would appear to be the next in line, given his tenure on the roster. However, he hauled in just six catches for 59 yards in 2019, albeit one went for a touchdown. He’s primarily served as a special teams player in his young career, but he has the chance to become a much larger part of the offense in 2020.
Demetrius Harris also makes a lot of sense to garner additional playing time. At 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, Harris is slightly undersized for the position. He’s spent time in both the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns’ organizations and made the most of his playing time over the last two years. Between 2018 and 2019, Harris hauled in just 27 catches, but six of them went for scores.
Adam Shaheen, despite being a high draft pick and tabbed Baby Gronk, appears to be on his way out. The Bears can save a bit of money if they cut him, perhaps to bolster the offensive line?
