The 2024 preseason is officially wrapped up for the Chicago Bears and now it's time for the front office and coaching staff to make the hard decisions.
With no more opportunities to really show out, multiple players are now days away from looking for a new home after roster cuts. By Tuesday afternoon, the Bears will have to trim the roster from 91 to 53. Here's the players I predict making final roster and which players will get cut.
Note: Players with an asterisk (*) were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, players with two asterisks (**) were undrafted free agents signed by the team.
Quarterbacks (3)
Projected Starter: Caleb Williams*
Backups: Tyson Bagent and Brett Rypien
Out: Austin Reed**
Analysis: The quarterback room in Chicago is set, the only question is whether or not the team keeps Brett Rypien on the roster as a third quarterback. Personally, it'd be a big help for Caleb Williams having a more experienced player on the sidelines in his ear with Tyson Bagent serving as the primary backup.
Running Backs (4)
Projected Starters: D'Andre Swift and Khari Blasingame (FB)
Backups: Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson
Out: Travis Homer and Ian Wheeler
Analysis: As much as I would like to see Ian Wheeler making the final roster , it's looking more likely that both he and Travis Homer get left off the list with Velus Jones Jr. working in the backfield . Homer and Wheeler are options for the practice squad and would be activated if one of the three players on the roster were to go down.
Wide Receivers (6)
Projected Starters: DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze*
Backups: Tyler Scott, Velus Jones Jr., and Deandre Carter
Out: Dante Pettis, Collin Johnson, Nsimba Webster, Peter LeBlanc**, John Jackson**
Analysis: After the final preseason game, Velus Jones Jr. and Deandre Carter are the best positions to land the final spots in the wide receiver room. Dante Pettis hasn't looked good on special teams all preseason and Johnson only shined during his one game of action. Carter will be on a short leash, but his return abilities and availability compared to Pettis, who was injured in practice this week, gives him the nod. Johnson could easily get brought up situationally during the season from the practice squad.
Tight Ends (3)
Projected Starters: Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett
Backup: Marcedes Lewis
Out: Stephen Carlson, Tommy Sweeney, and Brenden Bates**
Analysis: The tight end room has been set for weeks now. There's simply no available spots to keep a fourth tight end on the roster, but one (maybe two) of Tommy Sweeney, Stephen Carlson or Brenden Bates will return on the practice squad.
Offensive Linemen (10)
Projected Starters: Braxton Jones (LT), Teven Jenkins (LG), Coleman Shelton (C), Nate Davis (RG), and Darnell Wright (RT)
Backups: Ryan Bates, Matt Pryor, Kiran Amegadjie*, Jake Curhan, and Bill Murray
Out: Larry Borom, Jerome Carvin, Doug Kramer, Ja'Tyre Carter, Theo Benedet** and Aviante Collins
Analysis: Between Ryan Bates, Matt Pryor, and Bill Murray, the Bears will have a lot of quality depth at each of the interior positions. At tackle, keeping Jake Curhan makes sense due to his price tag compared to Larry Borom with rookie Kiran Amegadjie slowly working back in practice after getting activated from the NFI list .
Defensive Linemen (9)
Projected Starters: Montez Sweat, Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter, DeMarcus Walker
Backups: Austin Booker*, Zacch Pickens, Jacob Martin, Daniel Hardy, Byron Cowart
Out: Michael Dwumfour, Dominique Robinson, Khalid Kareem, Dashaun Mallory**, Carl Jones**, Jaylon Hutchings, Jamree Kromah**
Analysis: Daniel Hardy put together a strong showing during the preseason and has a real argument to make the final roster. The real question is whether or not Dominique Robinson showed enough to take Jacob Martin's spot after Martin missed all of the preseason games due to injury. As for Byron Cowart, he should initially make the team following Zacch Pickens' injury but I wouldn't rule out the Bears replacing him with another defensive tackle off the waiver wire.
Linebackers (5)
Projected Starters: Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards
Backups: Jack Sanborn, Amen Ogbongbemiga, and Micah Baskerville
Out: Noah Sewell, Paul Moala**, and Javin White
Analysis: Both Amen Ogbongbemiga and Micah Baskerville have looked really good getting quality reps over the last three preseason games. Even though he's a recent draft pick, I don't see a way you keep Noah Sewell after all the time he's missed. I'd be comfortable keeping both Ogbongbemiga and Baskerville on the roster as depth and special teams pieces behind Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards and Jack Sanborn.
Cornerbacks (6)
Projected Starters: Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson
Backups: Terell Smith, Greg Stroman Jr., and Josh Blackwell
Out: Jaylon Jones, Leon Jones**, Ro Torrence** and Reddy Steward**
Analysis: The Bears have really struggled to find a punt returner this offseason and keeping Greg Stroman Jr. and Josh Blackwell on the roster due to their experience in the role could be the final outcome we see. They also both know the defensive system well after spending each of the last two seasons with the team. But, Blackwell vs. Jaylon Jones is going to be the tough choice to make. Reddy Steward, who had two interceptions against the Chiefs tonight , will make for a great practice squad player with a really high ceiling.
Safeties (4)
Projected Starters: Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker
Backups: Jonathan Owens and Elijah Hicks
Out: Adrian Colbert, Tarvarius Moore, Douglas Coleman III and Quindell Johnson
Analysis: Once again, the safety room sees no changes. Tarvarius Moore looked good against the Chiefs in the preseason finale, but not good enough to challenge Elijah Hicks for the last spot in the room.
Specialists (3)
Projected Starters: Cairo Santos (K), Tory Taylor* (P), and Patrick Scales (LS)
Projected Returners: PR Rome Odunze* and KR Velus Jones
Out: Corliss Waitman and Cameron Lyons
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