After a magical preseason from the Chicago Bears, a lot of previous question marks have been answered. Players competing for roster spots have made their case, while others may find opportunities with different teams. With that, here are the final 2024 Bears 53-man roster & practice squad projections.
Final 2024 Chicago Bears 53-Man Roster & Practice Squad Projections
Quarterback (2)
Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent
No questions here. What’s the bigger issue is figuring out if the Bears decide to keep two or three active quarterbacks on the roster. That said, Caleb Williams has shown that he could potentially be the franchise quarterback the Bears have been waiting for. Additionally, Tyson Bagent looks like a man on a mission, refining his skills and proving the doubters wrong during the preseason. These two should be the total package for the Bears next season.
Running Back (5)
D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, Velus Jones Jr., Khari Blasingame (FB)
The running back position is arguably the most intriguing position group. Beyond D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, and Roschon Johnson, there was uncertainty about who would claim the fourth spot. The main battle came down to undrafted rookie Ian Wheeler and former third-round pick Velus Jones. Having transitioned to running back, Jones was given one final chance to prove his value, and he took full advantage of it, particularly in the last preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Jones totaled 122 yards, averaging 8.5 yards per carry, and scored a touchdown. His versatility as both a running back and wide receiver might have given him a slight edge.
Wide Receiver (6)
D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott, Dante Pettis, Collin Johnson
The main battle was for that fifth and sixth wide receiver role, with guys like Collin Johnson, DeAndre Carter, Nsimba Webster, and Dante Pettis competing for the spot. Pettis has stood out, catching two touchdown passes from Tyson Bagent in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The last wide receiver spot might have gone to Webster, but a serious injury during the last preseason game might put him in jeopardy of losing out on a roster spot. As for Johnson, he balled out during the Hall of Fame game, proving he could be an asset when needed.
Tight End (3)
Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, Marcedes Lewis
The three veteran tight ends will complement each other perfectly. Marcedes Lewis excels as a blocking tight end, Gerald Everett shines in the passing game, and Cole Kmet offers versatility, performing at a high level in all areas.
Offensive Line (9)
Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, Nate Davis, Darnell Wright, Ryan Bates, Kiran Amegadije, Matt Pryor, Ja’Tyre Carter
The offensive line has been mainly set from the beginning. New veteran additions like Coleman Shelton and Ryan Bates are significant boosts to the unit, while third-round pick Kiran Amegadije possesses all the qualities to develop into an outstanding tackle. Matt Pryor filled in nicely at right guard, and Ja’Tyre Carter adds extra stability with his versatility at guard.
Defensive Tackle (5)
Gervon Dexter Sr., Andrew Billings, Zacch Pickens, Byron Cowart, OPEN SPOT*
An underrated group of guys at defensive tackle who could have a huge impact. Gervon Dexter Sr. has taken massive strides over the offseason, and Andrew Billings might be the most overlooked player on the roster. The Bears will expect more from former third-round pick Zacch Pickens this season, while Byron Cowart adds a veteran presence to the defense.
*Open spot: Chicago Tribune writer Brad Biggs indicated that the Bears could potentially look to upgrade at defensive tackle. That said, the Bears might leave an open roster spot to bring in a veteran DT who was cut by another team.
Defensive Ends (4)
Montez Sweat, DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker, Daniel Hardy
The most talked about position for the Bears this offseason, defensive end has been a position the Bears were looking to upgrade. With news that the Bears were close to trading for New England Patriots edge rusher Matthew Judon, they wanted to find another elite pass rusher to complement Montez Sweat. Despite the deal not happening, the Bears should still be in good shape, with Austin Booker and Daniel Hardy showing their value in the preseason and offering significant potential for the team.
Linebacker (6)
T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, Jack Sanborn, Noah Sewell, Micah Baskerville, Amen Ogbongbemiga
The linebacker position was mainly set, with Amen Ogbongbemiga coming over from the Los Angeles Chargers to be a key contributor on special teams. Former fifth-round pick Noah Sewell hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to start but has shown flashes of brilliance when needed. Micah Baskerville had a fantastic preseason, proving he deserves a roster spot. The Bears look to head into next season with one of the best linebacking cores in the league.
Cornerback (6)
Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Terell Smith, Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones
It’s challenging for the Bears because their depth at cornerback is so strong that whoever gets cut will likely be a solid backup elsewhere. Beyond the starters, Terell Smith, Josh Blackwell, and Jaylon Jones are among the league’s top backup cornerbacks.
Safety (4)
Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, Jonathan Owens, Elijah Hicks
Bringing in Kevin Byard from the Philadelphia Eagles was a significant move by Ryan Poles. He and Jaquan Brisker will be a solid duo in the backline of the Bears’ defense. The main concern is whether they can stay healthy, but if not, Jonathan Owens and Elijah Hicks showed in the preseason they’re capable replacements.
Specialists (3)
Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, Patrick Scales
As for specialists, the Bears have one of the league’s best units heading into the season. Cairo Santos has been consistently accurate, Patrick Scales is rock-solid at long snapper, and Tory Taylor appears to be a generational talent at punter.
Practice Squad
Offense: Austin Reed (QB), Ian Wheeler (RB), Nsimba Webster (WR), Brenden Bates (TE), Jerome Carvin (C/G), Bill Murray (G), Aviante Collins (OT), Jake Curhan (OT), Theo Benedet (OT)
Defense: Jaylon Hutchings (DT), Khalid Kareem (DE), Jacob Martin (DE), Keith Randolph Jr. (DT), Greg Stroman Jr. (CB), Reddy Steward (CB), Adrian Colbert (S)
An NFL team can carry 16 players on the practice squad. Unfortunately for the Bears, they have such a talented roster that another team will likely pick up some guys who end up on the practice squad. Fans became familiar with guys like Austin Reed, Ian Wheeler, and Theo Benedet through HBO’s Hard Knocks, where the trio of undrafted rookies quickly won over the crowd. If they continue working hard, these three could have promising careers.
Main Image: Jay Biggerstaff – USA Today Sports
