A way too early projection of the Chicago Bears 53-man roster

It's another year and another change at quarterback in Chicago. This time, things feel different, though. Caleb Williams is the most talented arm to ever spend time on a Bears roster. The No. 1 overall pick status is something we've never seen here before at this position. It also does not appear this coaching staff is pulling any punches. It'll be the rookie out of the gate and Tyson Bagent, barring a big step back during camp, will be the primary backup. The biggest question here will be whether or not they add another veteran quarterback and how many quarterbacks they keep on the roster. For now, two seems like the right number.

Practice Squad: Brett Rypien

Barring a surprise trade, the running back group appears to be pretty well set. If anything, the biggest question is who will be RB2. At fullback, I'm not convinced that Blasingame is a lock for this roster. A lot of that will depend on what new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron wants to do but he did not carry a fullback in Seattle. If Chicago opts to cut Blasingame, they would save the full $1.6 million in cap space.

Practice Squad: Ian Wheeler

The top two names on this list are locked in and good to go. Then comes the final spot on the depth chart. Carlson would be the leader in the clubhouse right now but it's a thin group for that competition. Undrafted free agent Brendan Bates is the only other name on the roster right now. I wouldn't rule out a reunion with veteran blocking tight end Marcedes Lewis. He's affordable and brings the needed value of blocking. Plus, he'd be a great veteran presence to have in the locker room for a young quarterback.

Practice Squad: Brendan Bates

The overall makeover this positional group has seen in two short years has been impressive. Last year, Moore was the crown jewel of the Bears' trade down with the Carolina Panthers. That was until they landed the No.1 overall pick this year. Allen brings a valuable veteran presence and is still highly productive at 32. Odunze was a match made in heaven for this offensive and should be able to be paired with Williams for the next eight-to-10 years. Behind the Top 3 names is a little more uncertainty. Chicago will hope that Scott takes a big leap in Year 2. Jones Jr. should have additional value now that the return game will be more emphasized with the new kickoff rules. The Bears could opt to go with just five receivers but if a sixth is added, Pettis seems like the frontrunner to make the roster.

Practice Squad: Collin Johnson and Nsimba Webster

This is the one group that has been glossed over a little bit as the offseason has moved on. There's no question that Poles has built one of the better pass-catching units in the league to surround his rookie quarterback with. With that said, the offensive line needs to take a step forward in 2024 if they want Williams to be in the best position to succeed. Their moves at center should be an upgrade but were underwhelming. The depth has been improved and ultimately, I don't see Larry Borom making the final roster with a $3.199M cap hit for 2024. Versatility has been a big emphasis and their depth seems to have that. Health, especially on the interior, will be the key to any success this unit plans to have.

Practice Squad: Doug Kramer and Jake Curhan

One area I expected the Bears to add more was on the defensive line. It's possible they could end up banking on Yannick Ngakoue to re-sign and bounce back but even then, this unit is not yet a strength. Sweat is the only thing keeping this unit from being a serious problem. Because of that, health will be vitally important to this defense. In a vacuum, Sweat and Walker are a solid starting duo. The depth behind them is the bigger question. I loved the value of Booker in the fifth round but he's a developmental piece that shouldn't be expected to play a big role. Martin slots in as DE4 right now but re-signing Ngakoue would push him off the roster. Either way, I'd expect a veteran to be added before the start of the preseason.

Practice Squad: Khalid Kareem and Dominique Robinson

Much like defensive end, defensive tackle is another spot I could see the Bears adding a veteran free agent. The biggest issue (right now): The market is extremely thin. We'll have to see how the next few weeks pan out when it comes to post-draft veterans cuts but the only true upgrade would be a 38-year-old Calais Campbell. I'm not sure the Bears want to travel down that road. For now, they'll roll with their top three from last year, Cowart and a promising undrafted free agent. Depth needs to improve here but the front office could also wait to see how the depth plays out before making a move.

Practice Squad: N/A

This is yet another spot on the depth chart that hasn't seen a ton of change since last season. The Top 4 names are the same and Ogbongbemiga slides into the special teams ace role over Dylan Cole. The Bears could choose to keep six at the position, which would give Micah Baskerville the leg up but for now, I'll stay with my projection of five players for two full-time spots. More than anything, it'll be interesting to see if Sewell gets a shot at more playing time this year with Sanborn due to be a restricted free agent in 2025.

Practice Squad: Micah Baskerville

The biggest headline this group made in the offseason was Johnson signing his four-year extension before the big wave of free agency happened. Everything else has remained nearly the same and for good reason. This group has a high ceiling and youth on its side. Stevenson's Year 2 jump will dictate how far this unit can go but it shouldn't be a shock to anyone if they end 2024 being regarded as one of the best units in football. Outside of the very back end of the depth chart, there's not a lot to sort out.

Practice Squad: Jaylon Jones and Reddy Steward

For the first time since 2017, Bears fans will be watching a starting safety group that does not include veteran Eddie Jackson. Ultimately, his play and the amount he was owed in 2024 did not line up. After releasing the former Alabama product, it did not take the Bears long to find his replacement in Byard. The former Eagle and Titan will be looking to prove that 2023 was a fluke. All in all, this is still a quality group, and more importantly, the depth is much better than it was a year ago. I'm not sure that they'll end up going with five at the position but for now, that's how I have it projected. Plenty of competition for depth.

Practice Squad: Quindell Johnson

It took the draft to shake this unit up but Chicago will have its second new punter in three years, barring an injury. Santos recently signed a new four-year extension, potentially tying him to Chicago until after the 2027 season. Leg strength remains a question in colder weather but his accuracy and reliability are criminally underrated. Taylor was the team's lone fourth-round selection and one that came over more valuable positions like offensive and defensive line. Considering how impressive he was at Iowa and how highly Poles values the rookie, there shouldn't be a competition there. Finally, Scales returns for his ninth season in Chicago. Barring an unexpected retirement, my guess is that he'll be here as long as he wants.