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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Alyssa Barbieri

Bears’ 2023 projected depth chart as OTAs get underway

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the start of organized team activities (OTAs), which kick off May 22.

General manager Ryan Poles has continued to retool the roster this offseason, adding some potential impact players on both offense and defense.

The Bears’ offense is expected to make strides this season, where quarterback Justin Fields will be looking to take a step forward in a pivotal Year 3 with an upgraded supporting cast around him.

Chicago’s defense is looking to rebound following a brutal 2022 season, where they struggled to get after the quarterback and stop the run. We’ll see if Poles’ latest additions can help remedy that.

We’re projecting what the Bears’ depth chart looks like as OTAs get underway, where there’s more consistency on offense.

Quarterback

Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team Other
QB Justin Fields PJ Walker Nathan Peterman Tyson Bagent

Fields is entering a pivotal third season with the Bears, where the expectation is he takes a step forward in the passing game. The team signed Walker to serve as Fields’ backup and released Trevor Siemian shortly after. Peterman and Bagent will compete for the third spot.

Running back

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team Other
RB Khalil Herbert D’Onta Foreman Roschon Johnson Travis Homer, Trestan Ebner
FB Khari Blasingame Robert Burns

The Bears overhauled the running back room after David Montgomery exited in free agency. They signed Foreman and Homer in free agency and drafted Johnson in the fourth round, and Johnson should challenge for reps with Herbert and Foreman. The team also re-signed fullback Blasingame to a two-year deal.

Wide receiver

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team Other
WR DJ Moore Equanimeous St. Brown Dante Pettis Joe Reed
WR Chase Claypool Tyler Scott Nsimba Webster Aron Cruickshank
WR Darnell Mooney Velus Jones Jr. Daurice Fountain Thyrick Pitts

The Bears upgraded their wide receiver group with the addition of Moore, who was part of the trade for the No. 1 pick with the Panthers. Now, Chicago’s top wideouts include Moore, Mooney and Claypool, as well as Jones and St. Brown. In the fourth round of the draft, they selected Scott, a speedster who should be a vertical threat.

Tight end

Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team Other
TE Cole Kmet Robert Tonyan Stephen Carlson Jake Tonges, Chase Allen

Kmet is coming off a career year with the Bears, where he was a big part of the passing game. Chicago signed Tonyan to a one-year deal in free agency, where he’ll serve as a nice complement to Kmet. Tonyan is more of a receiver than a blocker, and he should factor into the red zone approach.

Offensive line

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team Other
LT Braxton Jones Kellen Diesch Roy Mbaeteka Josh Lugg
LG Teven Jenkins Lucas Patrick Ja’Tyre Carter Gabriel Houy
C Cody Whitehair Lucas Patrick Doug Kramer
RG Nate Davis Lucas Patrick Dieter Eiselen
RT Darnell Wright Larry Borom Alex Leatherwood Robert Haskins, Lorenz Metz

The starting offensive line is set following the additions of rookie Wright and free-agent addition Davis to shore up the right side of the line. Jones is entering his second season at left tackle, Jenkins is shifting to left guard and Whitehair moves to center.

Edge rusher

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team Other
DE DeMarcus Walker Rasheem Green Jalyn Holmes Jalen Harris
DE Trevis Gipson Dominique Robinson D’Anthony Jones

The Bears still have some work to do at edge rusher, but the group is headlined by Walker, Gipson, Green and Robinson. Look for Chicago to add another veteran to the mix.

Interior defensive line

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team Other
DT Justin Jones Zacch Pickens Andrew Brown Donovan Jeter
DT Andrew Billings Gervon Dexter Travis Bell

The Bears upgraded the interior of the defensive line with the additions of Billings, as well as drafted Dexter and Pickens, who will be key rotational pieces with Jones and Billings.

Linebacker

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team Other
WLB T.J. Edwards Sterling Weatherford DeMarquis Gates
MLB Tremaine Edmunds Noah Sewell Terrell Lewis Micah Baskerville
SLB Jack Sanborn Dylan Cole Kuony Deng

The Bears overhauled the linebacker position and free agency, and the team’s starting linebackers are set with Edwards, Edmunds and Sanborn. But the team landed a potential steal in Sewell, who will be key depth and a special teams contributor.

Cornerback

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team
CB Jaylon Johnson Kindle Vildor Terell Smith
CB Kyler Gordon Josh Blackwell
CB Tyrique Stevenson Jaylon Jones Greg Stroman Jr., Michael Ojemudia

The Bears found a quality third cornerback in Stevenson, who they traded up for in the second round of the draft. He’ll join Johnson and Gordon in the defensive backfield. Smith, a fifth-round selection, should serve as key depth behind Johnson.

Safety

Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Position 1st team 2nd team 3rd team Other
FS Eddie Jackson Elijah Hicks Adrian Colbert Macon Clark
SS Jaquan Brisker Kendall Williamson A.J. Thomas Bralen Trahan

There’s no doubt that Jackson and Brisker will lead a strong safety group for Chicago. While DeAndre Houston-Carson remains unsigned, that could mean an increased role for Hicks in his second season. The Bears also drafted Williamson late in the seventh round.

Special teams

Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Position 1st team 2nd team
K Cairo Santos Andre Szmyt
P Trenton Gill Ryan Anderson
LS Patrick Scales

The Bears re-signed Scales to a one-year deal to keep their special teams trio in tact heading into 2023. Chicago has consistency with their core specialists in Santos, Gill and Scales, who are heading into their second year together. The team also added competition at kicker with undrafted rookie Szmyt.

Projected starting offense

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
QB Justin Fields
RB Khalil Herbert
WR DJ Moore
WR Chase Claypool
WR Darnell Mooney
TE Cole Kmet
LT Braxton Jones
LG Teven Jenkins
C Cody Whitehair
RG Nate Davis
RT Darnell Wright

 

Projected starting defense

Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
DE DeMarcus Walker
DT Justin Jones
DT Andrew Billings
DE Trevis Gipson
LB Tremaine Edmunds
LB T.J. Edwards
CB Jaylon Johnson
CB Kyler Gordon
CB Tyrique Stevenson
S Eddie Jackson
S Jaquan Brisker

 

Projected starting special teams

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