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Bears Full Depth Chart Projection: Starters, Position Battles, Roster Bubble

A closer look at where the Chicago Bears' depth chart and roster stand, and the likely coming battles for starter and roster spots.
Gene Chamberlain|
Roschon Johnson carries during training camp last year. If the Bears look draft a back, Johnson could be battling for his job.
Roschon Johnson carries during training camp last year. If the Bears look draft a back, Johnson could be battling for his job. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Free agency produces an incomplete picture of an NFL team's roster.

The draft, and then a period after it when more free agents fill in roster spots, are yet to come.

A playoff team like the Bears has fewer spots to fill and fewer unsettled starting spots.

Still, after free agency's initial rush has ended, there is a basic photo in place of what the 2026 Bears roster will look like by the time they reach training camp.

Here is their current depth chart projection with three weeks left, the key position battles, and who could be with the bubble boys fighting for roster spots.

Depth Chart

*Starters

x-Likely to begin on IR

Quarterback: Caleb Williams*, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum

Real position stability exists here, as the same three are back for the second straight year and the top two for the second straight year.

Williams probably isn't as badly in need of the veteran assistance Keenum provided but it can't hurt having someone with his experience as a third. The Bears acknowledged attempts teams made to trade for Bagent, even though he has only four NFL starts with none the last two seasons. They appreciate what they have in Bagent. It sounds as though it's going to take a Day 2 pick to acquire him.

Running backs: D'Andre Swift*, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, Brittain Brown, Deion Hankins

The speed-receiving combination Swift provides is entirely absent if something happens to Swift. Johnson can be a short-yardage back, a receiver out of the backfield and even block. Brown emerged as a possible roster threat last year and Hankins was a back who suffered a training camp injury and sat out all year, sort of this year's version of Ian Wheeler.

Wide Receivers: Rome Odunze*, Luther Burden III*, Kalif Raymond, Jahdae Walker, JP Richardson, Maurice Alexander

They'll be signing up maybe half a dozen players to fill out roster spots for offseason work starting with the draft and then afterward. Six is insufficient even for a team relying heavily upon 12-personnel packages. Odunze needs to accelerate his development and Burden could be the explosive receiver whose numbers take a huge leap forward. Raymond knows the offense from Detroit, and can be a short-term asset. Holding onto the ball is the goal for everyone this year.

Tight Ends: Colston Loveland*, Cole Kmet*, Stephen Carlson, Nikola Kalinic, Qadir Ismail

The pure blocking tight end isn't in this group and it's a position they'll study in the draft for the third spot on the roster. Loveland could put up really big numbers with a full offseason and has been bulking up in the weight room since last year. The Bears could have dumped Kmet for cap purposes but realize the value of a second tight end who could start or many teams.

Offensive Line: C Garrett Bradbury*, LG Joe Thuney*, RG Jonah Jackson*, LT Braxton Jones*, RT Darnell Wright*, T Theo Benedet, T Jedrick Wills Jr., T Kiran Amegadjie, T Ozzy Trapilo-x, G Jordan McFadden, G Luke Newman, G Kyle Hergel

It's not the same group that succeeded limiting Caleb Williams' sack total to 24, 44 less than the previous year. Obviously losing Drew Dalman suddenly is a disaster. Bradbury gives them a practical, mid-range starter. Jones gets his starting spot back after Trapilo's bad knee injury in the playoffs. At least Jones has had success before at tackle before his own injuries. The X-factor is Wills. A Round 1 draft pick who had injury issues in Cleveland, he could challenge for left tackle starter if his run-blocking improves.

Defensive Tackle: Gervon Dexter*, Grady Jarrett*, Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, John Lynch

A run stopper is needed badly. Dexter needs to improve his run defense drastically to get a contract or 2027. Jarrett is coming off injury and 33 years old this season. The rest of the group is capable of a few plays a game but Lynch has been the best run stopper of the group.

Edge: Montez Sweat*, Austin Booker*, Shemar Turner, Dayo Odeyingbo, Daniel Hardy, Jeremiah Martin, Jonathan Garvin, Jamree Kromah

A lot of options as backups but Odeyingbo (Achilles) and Turner (ACL) might be slow to the starting blocks after their injuries. It makes the draft critical at this position after not one veteran, proven edge rusher was added via trade or free agency.

Linebacker: T.J. Edwards*, Devin Bush*, D'Marco Jackson, Noah Sewell-x, Jack Sanborn, Ruben Hyppolite II, Dominique Hampton, Nephi Sewell

Sewell's Achilles injury in the late season puts his season in jeopardy, while Edwards had a broken leg in the playoffs and could be watching OTAs and even the start of camp. Bush's addition was badly needed for pass defense and Jackson can play pass coverage but the may need to look at the draft for more help.

Cornerbacks: Jaylon Johnson*, Kyler Gordon*, Tyrique Stevenson*, Cam Lewis, Zah Frazier, Jaylon Jones, Josh Blackwell, Terell Smith, Dontae Manning

Lewis and Blackwell are slot cornerback depth, while Smith is coming off an ACL tear. Depth on the outside is being left to Frazier, who hasn't even had an NFL practice, as well as Smith and journeyman Jones. The need for draft or free agent help is obvious to back up starters. As for the starters, Johnson and Gordon need to be 100% after injury issues last year and Stevenson can't afford to backslide in a contract year.

Safeties: Coby Bryant*, Elijah Hicks, Gervarrius Owens

Currently, they must include Lewis among safeties because there aren't enough players, let lone starters. Drafting a starter and adding backup help in the draft or free agency is essential before worrying about who wins position battles or roster spots.

Specialists: K Cairo Santos*, LS Scott Daly*, P Tory Taylor*, LS Luke Elkin.

They'll likely add camp competition for Santos and Taylor, although probably not serious threats.

Position Battles

The key starting offensive battle, and really the only one, will be left tackle between Braxton Jones, Benedet, Wills and possibly Amgadjie. Benedet came a long way in a short time last year despite having arms too short for the position.

Until Trapilo can return to start—if it even happens this season after his bad knee injury—the battle for starter will be completely up for grabs. They could even add another one in the draft. Expect Jones to get early first shot at this based on his status as the former starter deposed by injury. He had solid Pro Football Focus grades as a run and pass blocker prior to his 2024 broken ankle.

Defensively, real competition or starting spots will center on linebacker, cornerback, and defensive tackle.

The possibility of a starting defensive tackle battle would revolve around how good of a tackle they add in the draft. It's more likely to take on the form of Jarrett starting first while the rookie defensive tackle learns the ropes and then steps in later.

Linebacker could be a starting battle for strong-side linebacker, used only when they're not in nickel. Jackson was excellent in any role they gave him, and expecting Sanborn to over take him for strong side starter seems unlikely.

The most interesting spot will be cornerback starter. Stevenson has had so many chances now and flashes without taking over the spot.  If Frazier shows promise or Smith bounces back quickly from an ACL tear, it could become a three-way starter fight. Last year Nahshon Wright came in off the scrap heap and essentially took Stevenson's role as a starter once Jaylon Johnson returned from surgery. If Wright could do it, why couldn't one of the backups or even a rookie draft pick?

Roster Bubble

Offensively, Amegadjie will be hard-pressed to make the roster with so much tackle competition after hasn't shown anything his first two years. Roschon Johnson doesn't look like he's in a bubble at the moment, but if they add a back then his backup role on the roster could be challenged after he has had so many nagging injuries in three years. The fact it's his contract year makes this even more of a challenge.

At running back, Brown will be hard-pressed to make the roster, especially if they can come up with a real speed option who can catch the ball in the draft.

Defensively, Hyppolite's roster spot could be severely challenged by Nephi Sewell, who knows the Saints' scheme brought to the Bears by coordinator Dennis Allen.

The defensive tackle competition between Street, Lynch and Gallimore could lead to one of them cut and returning on the practice squad. It's difficult for them to keep more than four defensive tackles on the 53-man roster.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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