The Chicago Bears 90-man roster is more-or-less set as the team prepares for organized team activities next week.
The bottom of the roster will likely undergo minor changes leading up to training camp, but the vast majority of players under contract now will join the team in Bourbonnais.
It’s a good time to look at how the team stacks up at each position and see where the biggest offseason battles are starting to form.
Here’s our look at the Bears unofficial depth chart after the NFL Draft.
Quarterback
Starter: Mitchell Trubisky
Backup: Chase Daniel
Reserve: Tyler Bray
The quarterback position was completely unchanged this offseason.
The same three players are back in their same three roles.
It’s Mitchell Trubisky and his two veteran assistants.
Running Back
Starters: Mike Davis/Tarik Cohen
Backup: David Montgomery
Reserves: Kerrith Whyte, Taquan Mizzell, Ryan Nall
Just because David Montgomery was the Bears first pick in the draft doesn’t mean he’ll be handed the starting job.
Matt Nagy’s backfield may not have a true “starter” but for now, Mike Davis will be the go-to runner and Tarik Cohen will continue to be the dynamic receiver out of the backfield.
The likes of Kerrith Whyte, Taquan Mizzell and Ryan Nall will be competing for one spot that may be on the practice squad and not even the active roster.
Wide Receiver
Starters: Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller
Backups: Riley Ridley, Cordarrelle Patterson, Javon Wims
Reserves: Emanuel Hall, Marvin Hall, Tanner Gentry, Thomas Ives, Jordan Williams-Lambert
After rebuilding the wide receiver corps last offseason, Ryan Pace continued to add to the group to support Mitchell Trubisky.
The top three from 2018 are back to lead the charge, but the team has more young depth behind them to keep fresh legs on the field and add different skill sets to Nagy’s toolbox.
By the end of the preseason, the receiver position might be the most difficult for the Bears to cut down for the 53 man roster.
On paper, they have eight players with a strong case to contribute this season, but only five or six will stick around. Good luck sorting this one out.
Tight End
Starter: Trey Burton
Backups: Adam Shaheen, Ben Braunecker
Reserves: Dax Raymond, Jesper Horsted, Ellis Richardson, Ian Bunting
Matt Nagy likes to utilize multiple tight ends in his offense, and it sends a message when the team brings in four undrafted rookie free agents.
Bears fans are looking for Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen to elevate their play to another level in 2019, which could leave more opportunities for the other TEs on the roster.
Dax Raymond was the biggest-name UDFA, but the bottom of the depth chart looks wide open this offseason.
Offensive Tackle
Starters: Charles Leno, Bobby Massie
Backup: Bradley Sowell
Reserves: Rashaad Coward, Cornelius Lucas
The offense tackle position really didn’t change this offseason.
Charles Leno and Bobby Massie are locked in on multi-year deals, and Bradley Sowell looks to be the veteran swing tackle behind them.
Rashaad Coward has a chance to earn a spot if his development advances, but the converted defensive lineman still faces an uphill battle.
Offensive Guard
Starters: Cody Whitehair, Kyle Long
Backup: Ted Larsen
Reserves: Alex Bars, Marquez Tucker, Blake Blackmar, Joe Lowery
Cody Whitehair is projected to switch roles with James Daniels in the starting lineup for year two in Matt Nagy’s offense.
Ted Larsen was brought back to Chicago after a few years away to be the veteran backup guard and center.
The Bears may want to keep eight offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, opening up an opportunity for an undrafted rookie free agent like Alex Bars, a favorite of offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, to make the team.
Center
Starter: James Daniels
Backup: Ted Larsen
Reserve: Sam Mustipher
James Daniels is moving back to the position he played in college, and he needs to quickly build a natural connection with Mitchell Trubisky for their snaps.
Ted Larsen has starting experience at all three interior offensive line positions, and his versatility is why he was brought back.
Sam Mustipher played under Bears offensive line coach Harry Hiestand at Notre Dame, which gives him as good a chance to stick around as any undrafted rookie free agent.
Defensive End
Starters: Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols
Backups: Roy Robertson-Harris, Jonathan Bullard
Reserves: Abdullah Anderson, Jalen Dalton, Jonathan Harris
By the second half of the season, fifth-round pick Bilal Nichols was taking the majority of the defensive end snaps opposite Akiem Hicks, and he’s on track to accelerate his growth in year two.
Roy Robertson-Harris and Jonathan Bullard will still have roles in the rotation, but they fell behind the rookie last season.
Abdullah Anderson was an undrafted rookie free agent last season out of Bucknell who stuck around on the practice squad. Jonathan Harris is looking to be this year’s small-school success story, while Jalen Dalton comes to Chicago as the biggest defensive lineman on the roster.
Nose Tackle
Starter: Eddie Goldman
Backup: Nick Williams
Reserve: Daryle Banfield
Eddie Goldman was mostly a one-man show at nose tackle last season, with Nick Williams only seeing the field for two games.
That structure is unlikely to change in 2019, but Banfield provides yet another small-school defensive lineman as the Brown product looks to make the jump from the Ivy League.
Outside Linebacker
Starters: Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd
Backup: Aaron Lynch
Reserves: Kylie Fitts, Isaiah Irving, Mathieu Betts, Chuck Harris, James Vaughters
After the top three on the depth chart, the next spot or two on the roster is wide open.
Kylie Fitts is the only draft pick of the group, but his sixth-round selection does not guarantee him a spot on the 53.
Mathieu Betts and Chuck Harris come in as well regarded undrafted rookies, but Isaiah Irving has won that battle in the previous two preseasons.
The Bears will need to keep depth at outside linebacker given the injury history of both Leonard Floyd and Aaron Lynch.
Inside Linebacker
Starters: Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan
Backups: Nick Kwiatkoski, Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Reserves: Kevin Pierre-Louis, Josh Woods, Jameer Thurman
The signing of veteran Kevin Pierre-Lewis signals the Bears could consider keeping five at the inside linebacker position for more special teams depth.
His past with Matt Nagy in Kansas City gives him a leg up over Josh Woods and Jameer Thurman, but the Bears may end up just going with the same four as last year regardless.
Cornerback
Starters: Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Buster Skrine
Backups: Kevin Toliver, Sherrick McManis
Reserves: Duke Shelley, Stephen Denmark, Michael Joseph, John Franklin, Jonathon Mincy, Joshua Simmons, Clifton Duck, Jomon Dotson
The Bears have five rookie cornerbacks on the roster. That sends a message.
After the three starters, it’s an open competition to fill out the depth chart. Sherrick McManis is the closest thing to a lock for his special teams and versatility, but the young talent in the room gives the Bears options.
Kevin Toliver starts out ahead of the pack given his experience, but it’s not guarantee that either of the team’s rookie draft picks will crack the 53-man roster in year one.
Safety
Starters: Eddie Jackson, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Backups: Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson
Reserve: Doyin Jibowu
It sends a different message when the Bears only add one undrafted rookie free agent safety and only carry five heading into organized team activities.
That looks to be an endorsement of Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson as the backups, but it’s surprising the Bears aren’t looking at more developmental options to potentially replace Ha Ha Clinton-Dix next year.
Special Teams
Kickers: Eddy Pineiro/Elliot Fry/Chris Blewitt
Punter: Pat O’Donnell
Long Snappers: Patrick Scales, John Wirtel
The kicking competition is the biggest storyline of the offseason, and the trade for Eddy Pineiro added to the spotlight.
Pat O’Donnell is back on a two-year deal, so he doesn’t have any competition at the moment.
Patrick Scales is the veteran long snapper, but undrafted rookie John Wirtel will have every opportunity to unseat him.
