Bears depth chart: Position battles come into focus on 90-man roster

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article_body => "With the reported signings of wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and safety Tashaun Gipson, the Bears\u2019 90-man roster is at, well, 90. So let\u2019s take a look at what the full depth chart looks like right now, which\u2019ll give us a window into what roster and position battles are coming into focus ahead of the 2020 season. <\/p>\n(Players with one star* are drafted rookies; two stars** are undrafted free agents)<\/p>\nQUARTERBACK<\/strong><\/p>\n1A. Mitch Trubisky 1B. Nick Foles 3. Tyler Bray<\/p>\nTrubisky will take the first snap of the Bears\u2019 first training camp practice, so technically, we\u2019ll say he\u2019s ahead of Foles on the depth chart right now. But my expectation is that Foles will overtake Trubisky and be the Bears\u2019 Week 1 starter. <\/p>\n[MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/bears\/jameis-winston-signs-andy-dalton-cut-bears-didnt-screw-qb-market\" target=\"_blank\">Did the Bears mis-read the quarterback market?<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\nRUNNING BACK<\/strong><\/p>\n1. David Montgomery 2. Tarik Cohen 3A. Ryan Nall 3B. Artavis Pierce** 3C. Napoleon Maxwell**<\/p>\nNall, Pierce and Maxwell look set to compete for a roster spot during training camp \u2014 unless the Bears sign a veteran free agent running back (like Carlos Hyde or Wendell Smallwood) first. <\/p>\nWIDE RECEIVER<\/strong><\/p>\n1. Allen Robinson  2. Anthony Miller  3. Cordarrelle Patterson 4. Ted Ginn Jr. 5. Riley Ridley 6. Javon Wims 7. Trevor Davis 8. Darnell Mooney* 9A. Reggie Davis 9B. Thomas Ives 9C. Alex Wesley 9D. Ahmad Wagner**<\/p>\nThis unit can be broken up in to three groups: Robinson\/Miller\/Patterson, who are all roster locks; Ginn\/Ridley\/Wims\/T. Davis\/Mooney, who will have a chance to compete for at least three roster spots; and R. Davis\/Ives\/Wesley\/Wagner, who will need huge camps to bump off anyone ahead of them. I think Ginn, Ridley and Mooney all make the cut, but I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if any of them didn\u2019t -- even Ginn and Mooney, who still have to earn their way onto the roster. <\/p>\n(Also, I didn't list the receivers at their respective positions here to illustrate how wide-open I think the competition will be.)<\/p>\nTIGHT END<\/strong><\/p>\n1. Jimmy Graham (U) 2. Ben Braunecker 3. Jesper Horsted 4. Darion Clark<\/p>\n1. Cole Kmet (Y)* 2. Demetrius Harris 3. J.P. Holtz 4A. Adam Shaheen 4B. Eric Saubert<\/p>\nGraham, Kmet and Harris will be on the Week 1 roster, leaving one or two spots up for grabs for the rest of the group. My thought here is the Bears will keep a backup at the \u201cU\u201d \u2014 Braunecker gets the nod over Horsted \u2014 and then also Holtz, who has the flexibility to play fullback. Shaheen has an uphill battle to make the roster after three lackluster years in Chicago. <\/p>\nOFFENSIVE LINE<\/strong><\/p>\n1. Charles Leno Jr. (left tackle) 2. Jason Spriggs 3. Lachavious Simmons* 4. Dino Boyd<\/p>\n1. James Daniels (left guard) 2. Corey Levin 3. Arlington Hambright*<\/p>\n1. Cody Whitehair (center) 2. Sam Mustipher<\/p>\n1A. Germain Ifedi (right guard) 1B. Rashaad Coward 3. Alex Bars 4. Dieter Eiselen**<\/p>\n1. Bobby Massie (right tackle) 2. Jason Spriggs 3. Badara Traore**<\/p>\nA lot of the depth has to be sorted out here, including where guys actually play (like seventh rounders Simmsons and Hambright). But the big battle will come down to Ifedi vs. Coward to at right guard. The thought here is Ifedi enters camp with a slight edge over Coward, though both should wind up making the cut given their flexibility to play tackle, too. <\/p>\n[MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/bears\/mayor-lightfoot-wants-consistency-mitch-trubisky-variety-matt-nagy\" target=\"_blank\">Mayor Lightfoot has some thoughts about the Bears' offense<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\nDEFENSIVE LINE<\/strong><\/p>\n1. Akiem Hicks 2. Eddie Goldman 3. Roy Robertson-Harris 4. Bilal Nichols 5A. John Jenkins 5B. Brent Urban 5C. Abdullah Anderson 8A. Lee Autry** 8B. Trevon McSwain**<\/p>\nThe top four in this group are set, with Jenkins\/Urban\/Anderson competing for one or two roster spots. Jay Rodgers likes to rotate all of his active linemen on gamedays, though, so whoever is fifth on the depth chart should see some playing time. <\/p>\nOUTSIDE LINEBACKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n1. Khalil Mack 2. Robert Quinn 3. Barkevious Mingo 4. Trevis Gipson* 5A. Isaiah Irving 5B. James Vaughters 6A. Ledarius Mack** 6B. LaCale London**<\/p>\nThe difference in the groups here: Irving and Vaughters have played in the NFL; Mack and London are undrafted free agents. But there isn\u2019t much of a gap between Irving\/Vaughters and the UDFAs to make the roster \u2014 someone like Khalil Mack\u2019s brother could certainly earn a spot with a good camp. <\/p>\n[MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/bears\/it-drives-brian-urlacher-crazy-lance-briggs-isnt-nfl-hall-fame\" target=\"_blank\">Why Brian Urlacher thinks Lance Briggs is a Hall of Famer<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\nINSIDE LINEBACKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n1. Danny Trevathan 2. Roquan Smith 3A. Josh Woods 3B. Devante Bond 3C. Joel Iyiegbuniwe 6A. Rashad Smith** 6B. Keandre Jones**<\/p>\nThe depth behind Trevathan and Smith is a lot weaker than it was last year with Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis. But the Bears are high on Woods\u2019 potential, which may be why they haven\u2019t signed a veteran backup this year. <\/p>\nCORNERBACKS<\/strong><\/p>\n1. Kyle Fuller (outside) 2. Artie Burns 3. Xavier Crawford 4. Michael Joseph<\/p>\n1. Jaylon Johnson (outside)* 2. Kevin Toliver II 3A. Tre Roberson  3B. Stephen Denmark<\/p>\n1. Buster Skrine (nickel) 2A. Kindle Vildor* 2B. Duke Shelley<\/p>\nI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Vildor winds up backing up Fuller outside, but we'll start him in the slot for now. The fifth round pick has an intriguing skillset but also an impressive competitive streak that\u2019ll help him fit as a reserve in the Bears\u2019 defense. <\/p>\nSAFETY<\/strong><\/p>\n1. Eddie Jackson (free safety) 2. DeAndre Houston-Carson 3. Sherrick McManis 4. Kentrell Brice<\/p>\n1. Tashaun Gipson (strong safety) 2. Deon Bush 3. Jordan Lucas<\/p>\nThe signing of Gipson pushes Bush back into a reserve role, though he\u2019s the first guy off the bench at either safety position. There should be a competitive battle for depth here behind Bush, too, with McManis, Houston-Carson and Lucas all having good special teams experience. <\/p>\nSPECIAL TEAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n1A. Eddy Pineiro (kicker) 1B. Ramiz Ahmed**<\/p>\n1. Pat O\u2019Donnell (punter)<\/p>\n1. Patrick Scales (long snapper)<\/p>\nPineiro is probably more of a favorite than I\u2019m giving him credit for here, since Ahmed last kicked in college at Nevada in 2018. But whoever the kicker is has to give Matt Nagy more a reason to be confident in him than the Bears\u2019 coach was confident in Pineiro last year. <\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/22004dc7-62d9-49f7-9af7-6a8fe5df6c76\/embed?theme=dark-custom&primary_color=%23fa4616&playlist_type=latest\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb676790335f?site_id=Dig_RSN_Chi&creative_id=nbcschi1140&cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&cp_1=washington&cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&cp_3=nbcschi1140\">Click here<\/a> to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/bears\">Bears<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n"
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Bears

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Bears

With the reported signings of wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and safety Tashaun Gipson, the Bears’ 90-man roster is at, well, 90. So let’s take a look at what the full depth chart looks like right now, which’ll give us a window into what roster and position battles are coming into focus ahead of the 2020 season.

(Players with one star* are drafted rookies; two stars** are undrafted free agents)

QUARTERBACK

1A. Mitch Trubisky
1B. Nick Foles
3. Tyler Bray

Trubisky will take the first snap of the Bears’ first training camp practice, so technically, we’ll say he’s ahead of Foles on the depth chart right now. But my expectation is that Foles will overtake Trubisky and be the Bears’ Week 1 starter.

[MORE: Did the Bears mis-read the quarterback market?]

RUNNING BACK

1. David Montgomery
2. Tarik Cohen
3A. Ryan Nall
3B. Artavis Pierce**
3C. Napoleon Maxwell**

Nall, Pierce and Maxwell look set to compete for a roster spot during training camp — unless the Bears sign a veteran free agent running back (like Carlos Hyde or Wendell Smallwood) first.

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Allen Robinson
2. Anthony Miller
3. Cordarrelle Patterson
4. Ted Ginn Jr.
5. Riley Ridley
6. Javon Wims
7. Trevor Davis
8. Darnell Mooney*
9A. Reggie Davis
9B. Thomas Ives
9C. Alex Wesley
9D. Ahmad Wagner**

This unit can be broken up in to three groups: Robinson/Miller/Patterson, who are all roster locks; Ginn/Ridley/Wims/T. Davis/Mooney, who will have a chance to compete for at least three roster spots; and R. Davis/Ives/Wesley/Wagner, who will need huge camps to bump off anyone ahead of them. I think Ginn, Ridley and Mooney all make the cut, but I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them didn’t -- even Ginn and Mooney, who still have to earn their way onto the roster.

(Also, I didn't list the receivers at their respective positions here to illustrate how wide-open I think the competition will be.)

TIGHT END

1. Jimmy Graham (U)
2. Ben Braunecker
3. Jesper Horsted
4. Darion Clark

1. Cole Kmet (Y)*
2. Demetrius Harris
3. J.P. Holtz
4A. Adam Shaheen
4B. Eric Saubert

Graham, Kmet and Harris will be on the Week 1 roster, leaving one or two spots up for grabs for the rest of the group. My thought here is the Bears will keep a backup at the “U” — Braunecker gets the nod over Horsted — and then also Holtz, who has the flexibility to play fullback. Shaheen has an uphill battle to make the roster after three lackluster years in Chicago.

OFFENSIVE LINE

1. Charles Leno Jr. (left tackle)
2. Jason Spriggs
3. Lachavious Simmons*
4. Dino Boyd

1. James Daniels (left guard)
2. Corey Levin
3. Arlington Hambright*

1. Cody Whitehair (center)
2. Sam Mustipher

1A. Germain Ifedi (right guard)
1B. Rashaad Coward
3. Alex Bars
4. Dieter Eiselen**

1. Bobby Massie (right tackle)
2. Jason Spriggs
3. Badara Traore**

A lot of the depth has to be sorted out here, including where guys actually play (like seventh rounders Simmsons and Hambright). But the big battle will come down to Ifedi vs. Coward to at right guard. The thought here is Ifedi enters camp with a slight edge over Coward, though both should wind up making the cut given their flexibility to play tackle, too.

[MORE: Mayor Lightfoot has some thoughts about the Bears' offense]

DEFENSIVE LINE

1. Akiem Hicks
2. Eddie Goldman
3. Roy Robertson-Harris
4. Bilal Nichols
5A. John Jenkins
5B. Brent Urban
5C. Abdullah Anderson
8A. Lee Autry**
8B. Trevon McSwain**

The top four in this group are set, with Jenkins/Urban/Anderson competing for one or two roster spots. Jay Rodgers likes to rotate all of his active linemen on gamedays, though, so whoever is fifth on the depth chart should see some playing time.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

1. Khalil Mack
2. Robert Quinn
3. Barkevious Mingo
4. Trevis Gipson*
5A. Isaiah Irving
5B. James Vaughters
6A. Ledarius Mack**
6B. LaCale London**

The difference in the groups here: Irving and Vaughters have played in the NFL; Mack and London are undrafted free agents. But there isn’t much of a gap between Irving/Vaughters and the UDFAs to make the roster — someone like Khalil Mack’s brother could certainly earn a spot with a good camp.

[MORE: Why Brian Urlacher thinks Lance Briggs is a Hall of Famer]

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

1. Danny Trevathan
2. Roquan Smith
3A. Josh Woods
3B. Devante Bond
3C. Joel Iyiegbuniwe
6A. Rashad Smith**
6B. Keandre Jones**

The depth behind Trevathan and Smith is a lot weaker than it was last year with Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis. But the Bears are high on Woods’ potential, which may be why they haven’t signed a veteran backup this year.

CORNERBACKS

1. Kyle Fuller (outside)
2. Artie Burns
3. Xavier Crawford
4. Michael Joseph

1. Jaylon Johnson (outside)*
2. Kevin Toliver II
3A. Tre Roberson
3B. Stephen Denmark

1. Buster Skrine (nickel)
2A. Kindle Vildor*
2B. Duke Shelley

I wouldn’t be surprised if Vildor winds up backing up Fuller outside, but we'll start him in the slot for now. The fifth round pick has an intriguing skillset but also an impressive competitive streak that’ll help him fit as a reserve in the Bears’ defense.

SAFETY

1. Eddie Jackson (free safety)
2. DeAndre Houston-Carson
3. Sherrick McManis
4. Kentrell Brice

1. Tashaun Gipson (strong safety)
2. Deon Bush
3. Jordan Lucas

The signing of Gipson pushes Bush back into a reserve role, though he’s the first guy off the bench at either safety position. There should be a competitive battle for depth here behind Bush, too, with McManis, Houston-Carson and Lucas all having good special teams experience.

SPECIAL TEAMS

1A. Eddy Pineiro (kicker)
1B. Ramiz Ahmed**

1. Pat O’Donnell (punter)

1. Patrick Scales (long snapper)

Pineiro is probably more of a favorite than I’m giving him credit for here, since Ahmed last kicked in college at Nevada in 2018. But whoever the kicker is has to give Matt Nagy more a reason to be confident in him than the Bears’ coach was confident in Pineiro last year.

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