Predicting the Bears 53-man Roster: Defense |
On Monday, we started discussing the Bears' 53-man Roster from an offensive perspective. Today, we will switch to the defensive side, as that is the one area most fans feel the most confident about.
No one is saying the offense will be bad or anything like that, but when you look at how this defense played down the stretch last season and then again in the preseason, you have to feel very confident in this group. Ryan Poles has done a great job of building his defense through free agency, the draft, and even on the trade market. He has continued to add to that side of the ball the last few days in camp with his most recent trades. Here is how things could shake out on the defensive side for the Bears:
Talk about stockpiling your defensive line with skill and depth. The Bears have one of the deepest defensive fronts in the league, and they will use that to their advantage. Although Sweat may be their only legitimate pass-rushing threat as of now, Booker did show plenty of flashes throughout the preseason, leading many to believe he can be the perfect complementary piece. You also have the newly acquired Taylor, who will factor into things as he has put up some solid numbers with the Seahawks. The interior part of the line will be loaded this season as second-year players Pickens and Dexter Sr will take massive leaps this season, while the veterans Walker and Billings will look to stabilize things. Throw in Robinson, who has improved in every aspect of his game, and the newly added Williams looking to prove himself and the Bears defensive line is going to strike fear into a lot of opponents this season.
Unlike the defensive line, which is loaded with depth, the linebacker room is strong but doesn't have nearly the same depth as the defensive front. Edwards, Sanborn, and Edmunds are going to be starters again, but should any one of them go down for an extended period of time, their depth will be tested. Ogongbemiga really came on toward the end of the preseason and played arguably his best game against the Chiefs, which goes a long way. Sewall is the biggest X-factor in this whole group. The 2024 fifth-rounder has tools for days, and when on the field, he is going to produce. However, he has been hurt most of camp, and that is a concern as he won't play if he is unavailable. If that's the case, look for Micah Baskerville to sneak in and potentially earn a spot. While many see him as a practice squad body, Baskerville could still earn a regular roster spot, as he had a great preseason.
Like the LB group, the CBs have some talent but not a ton of depth, should the starters go down. Johnson, Gordon, and Stevenson are expected to be the main starters this season, as they have played significant downs over the past few seasons. Behind them come, Blackwell and Stroman, the main depth pieces, as both of them have proven they can handle extended work when called upon. Should those guys be needed to cover a starting role for an extended period, things could get ugly, as the Bears may need to make a move to add more depth. For now, look for the top three CBs to handle the passing coverage duties.
When you look at the safety group this season, or at least right now, health is going to be very important. This isn't a very deep group, and apart from Brisker, you can't say this team has a reliable back end. You immediately notice the significant change is Eddie Jackson no longer on this Roster and being replaced by Byard. It will take some time for Byard and Brisker to gain chemistry together and their chemistry is the most important part to the Bears secondary success. Owens comes over from the Packers, and after seeing minimal playing time, he is expected to take on a more significant role this season, which could lead to more playing time. Should the Bears elect to add another Safety to their Roster or even a CB, Reddy Stewart or Tavarius Moore could be options if they are chosen for the practice squad.
There is no debate about who the special teams players will be. Santos is the kicker and will be for the foreseeable future after signing his extension. Taylor was a fourth-rounder this year and has a missile for a leg, and Scales has been the long-snapper for the past several years. The only question when it comes to special teams is who will be returning the kicks. D'Andre Carter and Nsimba Webster make a ton of sense, as does Velus Jones Jr and Tyler Scott depending on how they will be used this season. Whatever they decide to do, the Bears will have plenty of options, which is all you can ask for as a fan.Defensive Line (9): Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter Sr, Andrew Billings, DeMarcus Walker, Zacch Pickens, Austin Booker, Dominique Robinson, Derrell Taylor, Chris Williams
Linebackers (5): TJ Edwards, Jack Sanborn, Tremaine Edmunds, Noah Sewall, and Amen Ogongbemiga
Cornerbacks (7): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Terrell Smith, Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones, Greg Stroman
Safety (4) Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Owens, and Elijah Hicks
Special Teams (3): Tory Taylor, Cairo Santos, Patrick Scales
