The 5 Biggest Bears Starting Battles Going Into Training Camp
NFL training camps will get underway in a week, which means teams will begin to formulate their depth charts and prepare for another season.
With a large influx of new players, the Bears have their own spots to fill depending on how players perform with their reps in training camp and preseason.
Which positions are up for grabs? Let’s take a look.
RB1
Khalil Herbert vs. Roschon Johnson vs. D’Onta Foreman
The Bears will go by committee this year after leaning heavily on David Montgomery when healthy the last four seasons. But who emerges as the top option? Herbert is the best pure runner, averaging 5.7 YPC last season and being among the top RYOE runners in the league. His slight build makes him challenging to rely on as heavily as Montgomery, plus he has struggled in pass blocking and as a receiver.
Foreman is the group veteran who has reemerged as a very good backup RB for Carolina and Tennessee the last two seasons averaging 4.4 YPC. He is a bigger back, more thunder than Herbert’s lightning, but his vision isn’t as good as Herbert’s, plus he’s even less of a receiver.
Johnson is the wild card; he likely would’ve been a higher pick had he gone to any other school besides Texas, where Bijan Robinson was. He averaged 6 YPC, though on a lower volume. I think with his size, speed, and hands; he could be the best receiver of the three.
Prediction: Herbert is RB1, Johnson is the 3rd down RB, and Foreman is the short-yardage and goal-line back.
Outside CB2
Tyrique Stevenson vs. Kindle Vildor vs. Terell Smith
Jaylon Johnson is the Bears’ bona-fide CB1. Gordon’s play down the stretch earned him the NB spot. With teams playing in sub-packages like nickel and dime more than ever before, who gets the last spot? The favorite has to be 2nd round pick Tyrique Stevenson, being a high draft pick the Bears traded up for and having the ideal size and length to be a man corner, which Kindle Vildor lacks.
Don’t sleep on Vildor, though; he was much better last season before a season-ending injury after a disastrous 2021 season. He’ll get a lot of runs when the Bears play zone. Smith is the deep sleeper here, also having a great size, though not as athletic as Stevenson.
Prediction: Stevenson is the starter, but the Bears run a lot of 4 corner formations with Vildor
DT2
Gervon Dexter vs. Zacch Pickens vs. Andrew Billings
Justin Jones was the defensive team captain to end last season and did relatively well, so he is assured the DT1 spot. Next to him is a mystery. Dexter and Pickens were the Bears’ draft picks in the trenches on day 2. Both are raw, with Dexter being the larger and stronger DT and Pickens being the quicker and more agile one. Neither had a lot of production in college, but the talent and physical tools are there.
Billings has been a run-stuffing NT in the league for a few years now, and while he doesn’t offer much in pass rush, teams don’t run on him very well, as he eats up blockers. This one will be tough to figure out.
Prediction: Billings goes into camp as the starter, but Dexter overtakes him. Pickens and Billings will still be part of the rotation.
DE2 (or 3?)
Trevis Gipson vs. Dominique Robinson vs. Rasheem Green vs. Free Agent(?)
Demarcus Walker got a sizable contract that looks to give him the edge at one DE spot. The other is up for grabs. A free agent could still be added. Gipson and Robinson have a lot of potential, but Gipson needs to be more consistent against the run, and Robinson is still raw as he is in his third season playing the position.
Green was pretty solid for Houston as a rotational DE, but you’d prefer him down in the pecking order, not as a starter. Again, it would be a shock if the Bears didn’t add a player here before the regular season opener.
Prediction: A free agent is signed to be the starter, and Gipson, Robinson, and Green are all part of the rotation.
SLB
Jack Sanborn vs. Noah Sewell vs. Dylan Cole
We covered this the other day. I would be surprised if Sanborn gets usurped, but Sewell has the talent to do it, and Cole has the experience. Still, Sanborn should be the favorite based on the tear he went on late in the season.
Prediction: Sanborn is the starter, and Sewell and Cole focus on special teams.
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