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Where Toughest Chicago Bears Cuts Should Come Based on PFF's Grades

If final roster cuts came solely based on Pro Football Focus' grading system for two preseason efforts, the 53-man Bears roster might take on a surprising look.
Gene Chamberlain|
Bears safety Skyler Thomas intercepts the ball intended for Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jack Endries in Saturday's Bears loss.
Bears safety Skyler Thomas intercepts the ball intended for Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jack Endries in Saturday's Bears loss. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Chicago Bears

A Monday off entirely for players was strategically placed by Bears coach Ben Johnson before preparations to face Tennessee.

This allows them to take stock of what they have seen to date in two preseason games as well as training camp and offseason practices. It's a pause so they can assess who should be in the bubble or not for the final game against the Titans, as roster cuts loom.

"That’s where there is this discussion — players’ day off on Monday — with the personnel staff," Johnson said following Saturday's disappointing performance in Cincinnati. "That’s a pretty big day for us, to make sure we are all aligned, we all see it the same way.

"It will be a big week for them (players) as well. I said it a week ago that I don’t think there was much clarity, and actually it’s a good thing as we have a really good competition across the roster for a number of spots. Between the game tonight, we’ll watch that tape in depth and get a good evaluation of guys and then next week I’m certain we’re goingto be able to pick our 53 (roster) and I also think for our practice squad as well, as we get the best 69 guys because the practice squad in a 17-game season, they’re going to come up and help us.”

Ben Johnson and coaches are pausing Monday to assess where the roster is with the personnel department.
Ben Johnson and coaches are pausing Monday to assess where the roster is with the personnel department. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Being a fly on the wall in that room would be fun, except, of course, then you'd be a fly. Since no one could know what they're sayg about how they rate some of these players fighting to make the roster, there is one source that can help. Pro Football Focus grades are not necessarily the most reliable but are at least professionally compiled and sometimes dead on accurate.

For two preseason games, PFF says the Bears should have a tough time deciding whether to cut players at these three areas:

1. Cornerback


If they choose to keep six cornerbacks, it's still going to be difficult determining who goes or at least goes to the practice squad. There are a lot of players vying for only one spot, and versatility will rule the day.


PFF actually has cornerback Deantre Prince graded first in coverage (81.2) among all defensive players after two games, just ahead of Jaylon Johnson, but Prince was a player not in camp when practices started and has been judged for only 12 preseason game reps in coverage, 22 plays overall.

One spot behind Prince among cornerbacks is another player who wasn't with the team when practices began, but has 61 preseason reps. That's Beanie Bishop Jr. Against Cincinnati, Bishop didn't have the same kind of game as his two-interception effort against Cleveland and his run defense and tackling remain issues. He is graded worst tackler among all defensive backs at 27.5.

The fight for the last cornerback spot could simply come down to this last preseason game and/or who is healthiest at final cuts among Jaylon Jones, Josh Blackwell, Terell Smith, Prince and Bishop. Blackwell's value as one of the top special teams players looms large in any decision.

One thing to remember about Bishop is if they decide to keep him, he is out three weeks because of a suspension BUT his spot on the roster does not count. So they get an exemption while he serves the penalty for a past drug policy violation.

2. Running back

Not that anyone should have expected Roschon Johnson to be a cut victim this year, but, well, if you look at social media he was all but ticketed on his plane ride out of town. Instead, Johnson has done exactly what Ben Johnson wanted to see from backs in a few ways.

First, the veteran backup is No. 1 among all offensive players in pass blocking for a very limited number of reps. Ben Johnson made the remark about this being critical for backs in his offense. Roschon Johnson also showed up big earlier in his career as a pass blocker, before being beset with injuries. His running was the most obvious aspect of his grade, as a power back in short yardage production, and he is only 3.2 points behind breakaway running back Salvon Ahmed. Like Johnson, Ahmed's pass blocking has not been bad, and his touchdown on a screen pass indicates his potential value as a receiving back.

What makes this battle difficult is Brittain Brown trails both of the other two in grades for most categories, but hasn't performed poorly, either.

It could be a case where Brown winds up on the practice squad but Ahmed makes the roster because he might have niche value in the passing game to some other team just like he does in the passing game for the Bears.

3. Safety


This is going to be difficult because of Skyler Thomas' performance to date but mainly because of all the health concerns throughout camp for players like Cam Lewis, Xavier Woods and Elijah Hicks. Although Thomas, an undrafted rookie from Oregon, gave up a touchdown pass in Saturday's loss, PFF says he has had exemplary play in two games. This much is certain: Thomas has withstood the rigors of anyone else in the hunt for a job in this secondary. The guy is constantly on the field at practice, whether it's on defense or special teams. He has answered the call, and this is a lot more than several other defensive backs have done.

PFF has Thomas as their fifth-highest graded defensive player and third overall among DBs. What Thomas has done that can really endear him to coaches on both defense and special teams is tackle. He is the highest-graded tackler overall (85.7), one spot better than Cam Lewis despite having three times as many total reps (75). He also made an interception Saturday, and takeaways never hurt. With another good game Saturday, it would be a very tough cut to make based on these grades.

The decision here seems to be whether they keep Thomas or count on Elijah Hicks coming off PUP. At this point, go with the high PFF grade because he's healthy and producing.

4. Defensive end


Regardless of Austin Booker's health — and no one can be certain of that right now after he was held out of Saturday's game without explanation — this looks like a difficult cut to make entirely because of Jamree Kromah and the recent signing of Marcus Davenport. If Davenport figures as the fourth edge behind Montez Sweat, Austin and Dayo Odeyingbo, Kromah would find it difficult to squeeze onto the roster because veteran backup Daniel Hardy can provide them with both edge rush ability and past special teams excellence.

For Kromah, consistency of PFF grading has been there in two preseason games and 78 reps. That's many more reps than most players coaches must assess.

Kromah is said to have taken well to the different and more extensive fundamental approach coaches were able to use becausse they weren't burdened by introducing an offense and defense to everyone this year. Kromah did get plenty of offseason work with the first team in place of Sweat.

For two preseason games, PFF grades him the second-best defensive player overall behind only starting strongside linebacker D'Marco Jackson (90.8). With 44 more reps than Jackson, that easily means he would have the highest defensive grade. Grades tend to decline with more reps. Kromah has a 77.1 pass-rushing grade for the two preseason games, which is No. 1 for all their edges, and trails only rookie Jordan van den Berg (87.5) and Gervon Dexter (87.0).


Kromah should give the Bears something to consider while Davenport is still "ramping up." If Kromah is this impressive to other teams in their assessment, trying to get him by on the practice squad might not be so easy. One more strong game may or may not be enough to push him over the top, based on PFF's glowing assessment.

5. Defensive tackle

They're not going to keep more than five defensive tackles. They can't, although it wouldn't be surprising if they managed this by holding onto a player who had ability to do both. While their first five would appear to be Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, van den Berg, Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street, PFF's grades say James Lynch is more than providing a challenge to other backups. It is van den Berg who has been exceptional among tackles in two preseason games, grading out fourth best on defense and second best on the defensive line. However, Lynch is graded second best at the defensive interior spot and had more reps than any other defensive lineman for the first two games.

The problem is Lynch hasn't tackled well even though he grades high. No other defensive lineman who has made a tackle in preseason is graded below Lynch as a tackler. He needs to pick up his tackling performance while maintaining all other aspects of play.

It could come down to cutting Lynch or Street. With Street, they have a player who has been in this scheme in the past but Lynch is showing versatility as both an end and tackle. Lynch would look like an ideal candidate for the practice squad, although as a veteran he definitely wouldn't want to concede the 53-man for someone else. Because he is a vet, his ceiling is known and he probably needs a big final preseason game simply to let them choose him for a practice squad spot over other young players who could eventually develop.

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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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