Darnell Mooney could have healthy market in free agency

Chicago Bears WR Darnell Mooney is expected to have at least a few teams jockeying for his services in 2024 NFL free agency.

March 4, 2024· 1 min read

Photo: Getty Images

By Bryan Perez

March 4, 2024 · 1 min read

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Could the old adage "you don't know what you have until it's gone" apply to the Chicago Bears and wide receiver Darnell Mooney?

According to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, Mooney is viewed by the league as a much better player than his putrid 2023 stat line suggests, and his market in free agency will have at least a handful of suitors.

In fact, Mooney might be catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in 2024.

“The Chicago wideout is much better than his 2023 stat line of 31 catches for 414 yards and five TDs suggests," Fowler said. "The Chiefs or [Tennessee] Titans could be players here.”

<p>Mooney does have a 1,000-yard season on his resume, and if he ends up in a Chiefs passing attack that features a pinpoint passer in Mahomes, Mooney could reach the potential most Bears fans thought he had following the 2021 season.</p><p><a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/darnell-mooney-47769/market-value/">Spotrac</a> projects Mooney's market value at $10.4 million per season and predicts he'll secure a four-year, $42 million contract this offseason.</p><p>There's still a chance the Chicago Bears could view Mooney as the best and most cost-effective way to fill their WR2 role in 2024, but that chance seems slim at best.</p><p><br></br></p></div><div class="mt-8"><div class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2.5"><span class="font-display text-[11px] font-bold uppercase tracking-widest text-muted-foreground">Share</span><a 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Mooney could have healthy market in free agency",slug:"chicago-bears-wr-darnell-mooney-could-have-healthy-market-in-nfl-free-agency",wp_link:"https://www.bearstalk.com/2024/03/04/chicago-bears-wr-darnell-mooney-could-have-healthy-market-in-nfl-free-agency/",url_date_path:"2024/03/04",published_at:"2024-03-04T16:24:00+00:00",updated_at:"2025-07-14T08:02:48+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>Could the old adage \"you don't know what you have until it's gone\" apply to the Chicago Bears and wide receiver Darnell Mooney?\x3C/p>\x3Cp>According to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, Mooney is viewed by the league as a much better player than his \x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/team/bears/statistics\">putrid 2023 stat line\x3C/a> suggests, and his market in free agency will have at least a handful of suitors.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>In fact, Mooney might be catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in 2024.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“The Chicago wideout is much better than his 2023 stat line of 31 catches for 414 yards and five TDs suggests,\" \x3Ca href=\"https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-free-agency-rumors-chiefs-players-darnell-mooney/\">Fowler said\x3C/a>. \"The Chiefs or [Tennessee] Titans could be players here.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ciframe src='https://widget.spreaker.com/player?show_id=5636996&theme=dark&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=true&hide-likes=true&hide-comments=true&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true&cover_image_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net%2Ft_website_show_cover%2Fimages.spreaker.com%2Foriginal%2F3387c0d2eb4cc1aa6dce768aa31894a1.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"350px\" frameborder=\"0\">\x3Cspan class=\"fr-mk\" style=\"display: none,\"> \x3C/span>\x3Cspan class=\"fr-mk\" style=\"display: none,\"> \x3C/span>\x3C/iframe>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Mooney was a \x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/team/bears/statistics\">massive disappointment\x3C/a> in a Bears season that, aside from DJ Moore, had few highlights from its passing offense. Whether he was to blame or if he was a victim of Luke Getsy's offense and Justin Fields\" shortcomings is a debate I'm sure Ryan Poles and his staff are having as free agency approaches.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Mooney does have a 1,000-yard season on his resume, and if he ends up in a Chiefs passing attack that features a pinpoint passer in Mahomes, Mooney could reach the potential most Bears fans thought he had following the 2021 season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca href=\"https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/darnell-mooney-47769/market-value/\">Spotrac\x3C/a> projects Mooney's market value at $10.4 million per season and predicts he'll secure a four-year, $42 million contract this offseason.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>There's still a chance the Chicago Bears could view Mooney as the best and most cost-effective way to fill their WR2 role in 2024, but that chance seems slim at best.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Chicago Bears WR Darnell Mooney is expected to have at least a few teams jockeying for his services in 2024 NFL free agency.",featured_image_url:"/api/public/media/2025/07/darnell-mooney-free-agency-original.jpg",photo_credit:"Getty Images",status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[14]=["Free Agency"],tags:$R[15]=["chicago-bears","darnell-mooney","free-agency","news","nfl"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1,linkedContent:"\x3Cp>Could the old adage \"you don't know what you have until it's gone\" apply to the Chicago Bears and wide receiver Darnell Mooney?\x3C/p>\x3Cp>According to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, Mooney is viewed by the league as a much better player than his \x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/team/bears/statistics\">putrid 2023 stat line\x3C/a> suggests, and his market in free agency will have at least a handful of suitors.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>In fact, Mooney might be catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in 2024.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“The Chicago wideout is much better than his 2023 stat line of 31 catches for 414 yards and five TDs suggests,\" \x3Ca href=\"https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-free-agency-rumors-chiefs-players-darnell-mooney/\">Fowler said\x3C/a>. \"The Chiefs or [Tennessee] Titans could be players here.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ciframe src='https://widget.spreaker.com/player?show_id=5636996&theme=dark&playlist=show&playlist-continuous=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=true&hide-likes=true&hide-comments=true&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true&cover_image_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net%2Ft_website_show_cover%2Fimages.spreaker.com%2Foriginal%2F3387c0d2eb4cc1aa6dce768aa31894a1.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"350px\" frameborder=\"0\">\x3Cspan class=\"fr-mk\" style=\"display: none,\"> \x3C/span>\x3Cspan class=\"fr-mk\" style=\"display: none,\"> \x3C/span>\x3C/iframe>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Mooney was a \x3Ca href=\"https://www.bearstalk.com/team/bears/statistics\">massive disappointment\x3C/a> in a Bears season that, aside from DJ Moore, had few highlights from its passing offense. Whether he was to blame or if he was a victim of Luke Getsy's offense and Justin Fields\" shortcomings is a debate I'm sure Ryan Poles and his staff are having as free agency approaches.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Mooney does have a 1,000-yard season on his resume, and if he ends up in a Chiefs passing attack that features a pinpoint passer in Mahomes, Mooney could reach the potential most Bears fans thought he had following the 2021 season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca href=\"https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/darnell-mooney-47769/market-value/\">Spotrac\x3C/a> projects Mooney's market value at $10.4 million per season and predicts he'll secure a four-year, $42 million contract this offseason.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>There's still a chance the Chicago Bears could view Mooney as the best and most cost-effective way to fill their WR2 role in 2024, but that chance seems slim at best.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cbr>\x3C/br>\x3C/p>",related:$R[16]=[$R[17]={id:"57c6217b-5f93-40e7-a0cb-37db390ec98b",wp_post_id:100000000106,title:"Bears' highest PFF grades on defense highlight 5 players making a late roster push",slug:"bears-pff-grades-defense-bengals-preseason-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/24",published_at:"2026-08-24T17:39:34.072+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-24T17:39:34.072+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears' defense didn't have a particularly memorable night in Saturday's 27-9 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but several individual performances stood out in \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://premium.pff.com/nfl/teams/2026/PRE/chicago-bears/schedule\">Pro Football Focus' grading\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And some of the best grades belonged to players who desperately needed them.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>With final roster cuts approaching, Skyler Thomas, Deantre Prince, Jordan van den Berg and Jamree Kromah were among the Bears defenders who strengthened their cases against Cincinnati.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For this ranking, we're using a minimum of 15 defensive snaps. That removes the distortion caused by players such as Jaylon Johnson, Gervon Dexter, and Montez Sweat earning strong grades over only a handful of snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Here are the Bears' five highest-graded qualifying defenders:\x3C/p>\x3Cul>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Skyler Thomas — 88.1\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Deantre Prince — 83.4\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Jordan van den Berg — 83.2\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Wayne Matthews III — 79.5\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Jamree Kromah — 76.9\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3C/ul>\x3Ch2>Skyler Thomas leads Bears defense with 88.1 PFF grade\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Thomas picked an ideal time to produce his best preseason performance. The young defensive back earned an 88.1 overall PFF grade across 31 defensive snaps, easily the best mark among Bears defenders who met our 15-snap threshold. His 84.1 coverage grade was particularly impressive.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Thomas also produced one of the few highlights for Chicago's defense when he intercepted Sean Clifford in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with two tackles and the interception.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago's secondary has been hit hard by injuries, and Thomas is fighting to convince Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles that he deserves one of the final spots on the 53-man roster. An 88.1 PFF grade certainly helps.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Deantre Prince makes strong first impression\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Deantre Prince hasn't been with the Bears for long, but PFF liked what it saw against Cincinnati.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The 25-year-old cornerback played 22 defensive snaps and earned an 83.4 overall grade, including an 81.2 coverage grade. He allowed no receptions on two targets.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Prince doesn't have much time to separate himself, making every preseason rep especially important. His first extended opportunity was encouraging.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Jordan van den Berg keeps making his case\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Jordan van den Berg's hot summer continues to get more interesting.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The rookie defensive tackle earned an 83.2 overall grade across 33 snaps, placing him third among qualifying Bears defenders.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>PFF gave van den Berg an 80.0 pass-rush grade; he also recorded two quarterback hurries in the grading data provided. In other words, he's exactly what the Bears need from the interior of the defensive line.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>There was one glaring negative: his 29.8 tackling grade was easily his lowest mark of the night.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Still, the larger trend remains encouraging. Van den Berg has steadily worked his way into the Bears' defensive-line conversation throughout training camp,and there's a chance he's a full-time starter early in his rookie year.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For a sixth-round pick who entered camp fighting for a roster spot, van den Berg continues to play like one of this year's biggest NFL draft steals.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Wayne Matthews III dominates against the run\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Rookie linebacker Wayne Matthews III didn't generate the same attention during the game, but his PFF grades demand another look. Matthews earned a 79.5 overall grade across 31 defensive snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His 90.2 run-defense grade was the most impressive number, especially for a defense that's been routinely sliced in the run game in recent years.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Matthews is battling for a depth role in a linebacker room that already has several established options ahead of him. That means his path to the roster remains difficult and will likely require special-teams contributions.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But the undrafted rookie put up good tape against the Bengals and will force Chicago's coaching staff to take a closer look at his role.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Jamree Kromah continues his impressive preseason\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Jamree Kromah isn't going away. After being one of Chicago's biggest defensive standouts against Cleveland, Kromah followed it with another strong PFF performance against Cincinnati.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He earned a 76.9 overall grade across 38 defensive snaps, giving him the largest workload of any player in the Bears' qualifying top five. Kromah also received a 75.8 pass-rush grade.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kromah's strong preseason opener put him on the radar. Following it with another quality performance suggests his emergence deserves to be taken seriously.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears have difficult decisions coming along the defensive line, but Kromah is doing everything he can to make sure he's part of the final 53.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Several Bears starters graded well in limited action\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>The 15-snap minimum leaves several notable Bears defenders outside our primary rankings.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Jaylon Johnson earned a 75.3 overall grade, but played only 14 snaps. D'Marco Jackson posted a 74.8, also on 14 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Gervon Dexter earned a 74.4 grade on 14 snaps, including an impressive 90.0 pass-rush grade. Montez Sweat finished at 71.5 over 10 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman also received a 70.1 overall grade across 14 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Those are encouraging numbers, but the samples are too small to compare directly with players who were on the field for 20, 30 or nearly 40 defensive snaps.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Skyler Thomas led the Bears' defensive PFF grades against Cincinnati, while several young defenders strengthened their cases before final roster cuts.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787593012650-r87vo5.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzU5MzAxMjY1MC1yODd2bzUud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc1OTMwMTMsImV4cCI6MjEwMjk1MzAxM30.oLrUUs6B0u4JdwR1nbYzvjK-eOYJSJ_YIuOKbnqJZZI",photo_credit:" IMAGN IMAGES ",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-24T17:23:56.51436+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[18]=["News"],tags:$R[19]=["2026 NFL preseason","chicago bears","grades","pff grades"],meta_title:"Chicago Bears' top PFF grades on defense vs. Bengals",meta_description:"Skyler Thomas led the Chicago Bears' defensive PFF grades against Cincinnati, while several young defenders strengthened their cases before final roster cuts.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:4,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!0},$R[20]={id:"44f1cdf9-256f-492a-a906-39052f191a00",wp_post_id:100000000105,title:"Bears' highest PFF grades on offense vs. Bengals produce unexpected standouts",slug:"chicago-bears-pff-grades-offense-bengals-preseason-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/24",published_at:"2026-08-24T17:22:41.636+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-24T17:22:41.636+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears didn't have many reasons to feel good about their 27-9 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. But \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://premium.pff.com/nfl/teams/2026/PRE/chicago-bears/schedule\">Pro Football Focus' grades\x3C/a> from Saturday night identified several individual performances worth paying attention to, and some of the highest marks belonged to players fighting for jobs.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>To avoid overreacting to tiny samples, I'm using a minimum threshold of 15 offensive or defensive snaps when identifying Chicago's highest-graded players. That eliminates players such as Darnell Wright and Colston Loveland, who graded extremely well but played fewer than 10 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>With that qualifier in place, wide receiver Maurice Alexander was Chicago's highest-graded offensive player, while defensive back Skyler Thomas led the defense.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And both performances matter with final roster cuts approaching.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears' highest PFF grades on offense vs. Bengals\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Among Bears who played at least 15 offensive snaps, these were the five highest PFF grades:\x3C/p>\x3Cul>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Maurice Alexander: 87.3\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>JP Richardson: 74.3\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Sam Roush: 69.7\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Roschon Johnson: 69.1\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Mason Murphy: 68.0\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3C/ul>\x3Ch3>Maurice Alexander strengthens his roster case\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Alexander's 87.3 overall grade wasn't just the best among qualifying Bears offensive players. It was \x3Cem>easily\x3C/em> the best.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>PFF also gave him an 84.2 receiving grade across 25 offensive snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Alexander caught all five of his targets for a team-high 60 yards and became one of Chicago's most reliable offensive options in an otherwise forgettable performance. And the timing couldn't be better.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kaden Davis has generated significantly more buzz throughout training camp, while JP Richardson has made his own push. Alexander needed a performance that forced his way back into the conversation for one of the Bears' final receiver spots. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>An 87.3 PFF grade certainly qualifies.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>JP Richardson keeps stacking solid performances\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Richardson continues to quietly make his roster case, too.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His 74.3 overall grade ranked second among Bears players who saw at least 15 offensive snaps. He earned a 73.2 receiving grade while playing 39 snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Richardson caught five passes for 48 yards against Cincinnati, including a 19-yard reception that helped put Chicago in position for Cairo Santos' field goal just before halftime. He's not getting the same attention as some of the other receivers, but he keeps hanging around.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Sam Roush is surging\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Roush finished with a 69.7 overall grade over 26 offensive snaps. His receiving grade was even better at 72.3.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The rookie third-round pick is the clear front-runner to be the TE3 behind Loveland and Cole Kmet, which matters more in 2026 than in recent years. The Bears value multiple-tight-end personnel in Ben Johnson's offense; Roush will be on the field a lot.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Roschon Johnson's PFF grade backs up Ben Johnson's praise\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Roschon Johnson continues to help himself. He earned a 69.1 overall grade, including a 78.7 pass-blocking grade, across 26 offensive snaps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Ben Johnson has repeatedly emphasized that Chicago's reserve running backs need to contribute beyond simply carrying the football. Special teams and pass protection could ultimately determine the final spots behind D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson had the kind of all-around performance that could secure an RB3 role.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Mason Murphy quietly grades well again\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Murphy rounds out the qualifying top five with a 68.0 overall grade.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The reserve tackle played 23 snaps and earned a 77.1 run-blocking grade, another encouraging performance from an offensive lineman fighting for a spot way down the depth chart.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Given how unsettled Chicago's tackle situation has been all summer, every competent performance matters.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Maurice Alexander led the Bears' offensive PFF grades against Cincinnati, while JP Richardson and other roster hopefuls also impressed.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787591990526-rhi7zj.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzU5MTk5MDUyNi1yaGk3emoud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc1OTE5OTEsImV4cCI6MjEwMjk1MTk5MX0.LAAdtC_SyDgWsCQiqV8iWlK9jTUTeqNR-pdZNPPAXqI",photo_credit:"Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-24T17:12:16.710683+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[21]=["News"],tags:$R[22]=["chicago bears","NFL preseason","player grades","pro football focus"],meta_title:"Chicago Bears' top PFF grades on offense vs. Bengals",meta_description:"Maurice Alexander led the Chicago Bears' offensive PFF grades against Cincinnati, while JP Richardson and other roster hopefuls also impressed.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:3,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[23]={id:"e500b796-dc01-4eb9-93af-8ed054170bb1",wp_post_id:100000000104,title:"5 Bears who could be traded before Ryan Poles makes his final roster cuts",slug:"chicago-bears-trade-candidates-final-roster-cuts-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/24",published_at:"2026-08-24T16:54:10.852+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-24T16:54:10.852+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears have reached the point in the preseason when Ryan Poles' phone should be getting plenty of use. Chicago has one preseason game remaining before the roster must be reduced to 53 players, and Ben Johnson acknowledged over the weekend that there still isn't \"complete clarity\" on several roster decisions.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's where trades can enter the equation.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Rather than simply releasing a player who might attract interest elsewhere, Poles can spend the next several days exploring whether another team is willing to surrender a late-round pick for them. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears don't have an obvious blockbuster candidate. What they do have is quality depth at a few positions and several players with enough NFL experience or pedigree to potentially generate modest trade interest.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Here are five Bears who make the most sense as trade candidates entering the final week of the preseason.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>1. Kiran Amegadjie, OT\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>No Bears player fits the preseason-trade profile better than Kiran Amegadjie.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago selected Amegadjie with the 75th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he entered training camp as one of the legitimate candidates to start at left tackle. Unfortunately, that competition hasn't gone according to plan.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Amegadjie started the preseason opener against Cleveland and split the workload fairly evenly with Jedrick Wills Jr. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor acknowledged afterward that neither player had been perfect and that the competition remained open.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Then Braxton Jones came back.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Jones returned to first-team left tackle work, Theo Benedet moved up with the second unit, and Amegadjie and Wills shifted to the right side. Ozzy Trapilo's surprisingly fast return from his patellar tendon injury has only made Chicago's tackle room more crowded.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Amegadjie is still only 24, has legitimate physical tools, and carries the pedigree of a former third-round pick. That's exactly the type of player another offensive line coach might believe he can develop.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears wouldn't get anything close to their original investment back. But if Amegadjie is no longer among Chicago's best eight or nine offensive linemen, turning him into a future late-Day 3 selection would be better than simply exposing him to waivers.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>2. Jedrick Wills Jr., OT\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Wills belongs in the same conversation as Amegadjie.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears signed the former Browns first-round pick to a one-year contract in March, giving him an opportunity to compete for the vacancy at left tackle. He hasn't won it. Not even close, actually.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Wills split preseason-opening snaps with Amegadjie and has slowly dropped down the depth chart since. The Bears' latest official depth chart still groups Jones, Wills, Amegadjie and Trapilo at left tackle, but the practice rotation has increasingly pointed toward Jones and Benedet as the preferred options.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Wills' trade market wouldn't be substantial. But offensive tackle is one of those positions where teams become desperate.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>One injury elsewhere around the league could suddenly make an experienced tackle with 60 career NFL starts considerably more attractive. If the Bears determine Benedet and Trapilo give them sufficient tackle depth behind Jones and Darnell Wright, Wills could become expendable.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>3. Roschon Johnson, RB\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Roschon Johnson has done nothing to warrant being dumped. In fact, Ben Johnson praised him after the Cincinnati game for his recent work on special teams and suggested he may have successfully stacked strong performances.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago's running back situation starts with D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Salvon Ahmed has also made a strong case for a roster spot throughout the preseason.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>If the Bears only want three running backs, Poles could dangle Roschon to running back-needy teams.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>There is also a strong argument for simply keeping Roschon. His special-teams ability is exactly what Ben Johnson wants from a reserve running back, and Monangai's hyperextended knee makes trading away power-running depth riskier than it otherwise would be.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But if another team loses a running back this week and comes calling, Poles should at least listen.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/NFL/status/2088687071653236949?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/NFL/status/2088687071653236949?s=20\">https://x.com/NFL/status/2088687071653236949?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Ch2>4. Maurice Alexander, WR\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Alexander was arguably Chicago's most productive offensive player against Cincinnati, catching all five of his targets for 60 yards. But the Bears simply have too many receivers and not enough roster spots.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III are locks. Kalif Raymond has a defined role. Zavion Thomas was drafted this year. Jahdae Walker has been part of the Bears' plans, while Kaden Davis has emerged as one of the biggest stories of training camp.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Chicago's \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.chicagobears.com/team/depth-chart\">unofficial depth chart\x3C/a> shows just how crowded the position has become, with Alexander competing alongside Davis, JP Richardson, Scotty Miller, Ray-Ray McCloud III and others for the remaining opportunities.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The question is whether Alexander has enough trade value to avoid simply becoming a cut. In all likelihood, his market wouldn't be hot.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But productive preseason receivers occasionally become attractive to teams dealing with injuries or dissatisfied with the bottom of their own depth charts. Alexander also has NFL return experience, which could make him more useful to another team.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>5. A Bears defensive lineman\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>This position group is the wild card.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears entered training camp with defensive line depth as a concern. Something unexpected has happened since: Jordan van den Berg and Jamree Kromah have made the roster math much more complicated.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Van den Berg has been one of Chicago's most impressive young defenders. Kromah erupted in the preseason opener and continued helping his roster case against Cincinnati. The Bears recently added veteran Marcus Davenport, too. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>The list of names along the Bears' defensive front is long: Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo, Daniel Hardy, Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter Sr., Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, James Lynch and others.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>There simply isn't room for everyone.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kentavius Street or James Lynch would be names to watch if Chicago believes it has more defensive linemen worth keeping than roster spots available. Again, the return would be very light: a conditional late-round pick in a down-the-road draft class.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Still, getting something is better than getting nothing.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Don't expect a major return in a Bears preseason trade\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>If the Bears make a trade this week, they probably aren't adding a premium draft pick. And I don't see any way Poles swings for a home run and lands \x3Cem>dude \x3C/em>like Maxx Crosby.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Players on the edge of 53-man rosters don't usually command substantial compensation because every NFL general manager knows cuts are coming. Why give up a fifth-round pick for someone who might be available for nothing days later?\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The value comes when multiple teams might want the same player, when waiver priority becomes an issue, or when a club has an immediate need it doesn't want to leave unresolved. That's why Amegadjie is the most intriguing name.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He's young, plays a premium position, and has Day 2 draft pedigree. There are enough developmental traits there for another organization to believe a change of scenery could unlock something.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Ben Johnson said the Bears aren't simply trying to identify their best 53 players. They're looking at the best 69, knowing the practice squad will inevitably be needed during a 17-game season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The next few days are about deciding which players belong in that group. For anyone who doesn't, Poles should find out whether another NFL team is willing to give the Bears something before they're forced to give that player away for nothing.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Bears have several difficult roster decisions looming, and Ryan Poles could explore trades before being forced to cut players for nothing.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787590235085-5a19fl.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzU5MDIzNTA4NS01YTE5Zmwud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc1OTAyMzYsImV4cCI6MjEwMjk1MDIzNn0._m095GKB6blLm3U2N5xZRdBFYdixn5ubc_YV8w6tHg4",photo_credit:"Perry Knotts/GettyImages",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-24T16:35:02.733425+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[24]=[],tags:$R[25]=["53-man roster","chicago bears","kiran amegadjie","NFL"],meta_title:"5 Chicago Bears trade candidates before final roster cuts",meta_description:"The Chicago Bears have several difficult roster decisions looming, and Ryan Poles could explore trades before being forced to cut players for nothing.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:5,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[26]={id:"ffc06b41-8a25-4f73-a551-1b97f3885780",wp_post_id:100000000103,title:"PFF ranks Bears' receiving corps 14th despite intriguing young trio",slug:"bears-receiving-corps-pff-ranking-14th-nfl-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/24",published_at:"2026-08-24T14:08:54.722+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-24T14:08:54.722+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears have spent the last two years assembling one of the NFL's most intriguing collections of young pass-catchers around Caleb Williams. But Pro Football Focus isn't ready to call the group elite just yet.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>PFF ranked the Bears' receiving corps \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-receiving-corps-rankings-the-lions-lead-the-way\">No. 14 in the NFL entering the 2026 season\x3C/a>, putting Chicago almost exactly in the middle of the league despite the upside of Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>PFF's ranking evaluates each team's complete collection of pass-catchers rather than just its wide receivers.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Detroit earned the No. 1 spot, followed by Dallas and Cincinnati. Within the NFC North, Minnesota ranks fifth and Green Bay 11th, leaving the Bears third in the division.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But No. 14 could prove to undersell this team if Chicago's young weapons make the jumps expected of them.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>PFF sees major upside in Colston Loveland and Luther Burden\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>PFF highlighted Loveland and Burden as two primary reasons for optimism.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"Tight end \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/Colston-Loveland/158540/draft-profile\">Colston Loveland\x3C/a> impressed last season and is ready for an expanded role in Year 2,\" PFF wrote. \"\x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://premium.pff.com/ncaa/teams/2024/REGPO/\">Luther\x3C/a>\x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/Luther-Burden-III/157170/draft-profile\"> Burden III\x3C/a>’s outlook is also trending upward after a slow start to his rookie campaign. The pieces are here for this group to take a real step this season and display more reliability. Despite coming up in the clutch several times last year, \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.pff.com/nfl/teams/chicago-bears/6\">Bears\x3C/a> receivers dropped seven targets beyond 20 yards downfield last season, the most of any offense.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Burden is the X-factor.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His final rookie numbers — 47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns — don't fully capture how efficiently he performed. PFF gave Burden a 79.9 receiving grade, which ranked 19th among qualified receivers. He also averaged 7.3 yards after the catch per reception and generated a 123.1 passer rating when targeted.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His role expanded as the 2025 season progressed, and with Moore now in Buffalo, Burden has an obvious path toward significantly more opportunities once he returns from the groin injury that has interrupted his training camp.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786549187478-2ty379.jpg?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjU0OTE4NzQ3OC0ydHkzNzkuanBnIiwic2NvcGUiOiJkb3dubG9hZCIsImlhdCI6MTc4NjU0OTE4OCwiZXhwIjoyMTAxOTA5MTg4fQ.0RxMnxUNicFsFSRbEBVZHfuEGZZNTD0tX3y6_abHlPo\" alt=\"Rome Odunze Bears 2026\">\x3Ch2>Rome Odunze remains a huge part of Bears' 2026 projection\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Interestingly, PFF's Bears write-up focuses primarily on Loveland and Burden, but Odunze could be the player who ultimately determines whether Chicago outperforms the No. 14 ranking.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His 2025 season was disrupted by a foot injury after a promising start. Odunze still finished with 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 15 yards per reception. PFF gave him a 72.0 receiving grade.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Now healthy, Odunze has made it clear that he views himself as capable of being Chicago's No. 1 receiver. And that's exactly the question surrounding this group.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears have plenty of upside. But do they have a true alpha receiver capable of consistently taking over games?\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Odunze has an opportunity to provide that answer in Year 3.\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears need to eliminate one major problem from 2025\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>PFF also identified the statistic preventing Chicago's receiving corps from receiving a more enthusiastic evaluation: drops.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears dropped seven targets on passes thrown more than 20 yards downfield last season, the most of any team.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Odunze was charged with four drops last season, while Burden had five.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Those missed opportunities have to disappear if Chicago wants its passing attack to take another step. It's also why PFF's ranking of the Bears as a group seems fair... for now.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786375416911-qjwcws.jpg?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjM3NTQxNjkxMS1xandjd3MuanBnIiwic2NvcGUiOiJkb3dubG9hZCIsImlhdCI6MTc4NjM3NTQyMCwiZXhwIjoyMTAxNzM1NDIwfQ.tmNs2GMxUIh9PD-dux8SiQMcVM4lHHw5Uxp4730V2dk\" alt=\"Colston Loveland Bears\">\x3Ch2>Bears have the upside to outperform No. 14 ranking\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>There's an interesting contrast developing in how Chicago's receiving talent is being evaluated nationally.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://bearstalk.com/2026/08/22/chicago-bears-espn-nfl-position-group-rankings-2026\">ESPN recently ranked the Bears' wide receiver room 24th\x3C/a>. PFF, by evaluating the entire collection of receiving options, has Chicago much higher at No. 14.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Loveland is a major reason for the difference.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And when evaluating the weapons Williams will actually have at his disposal, including tight ends and running backs, makes considerably more sense than isolating the receivers.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>If Odunze takes the next step, Burden's second-half surge carries into Year 2, and Loveland builds on his rookie season, Williams could be throwing to one of the NFL's most difficult young receiving trios by the end of 2026.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For now, Pro Football Focus wants to see them prove it.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"PFF ranked the Bears' pass-catchers 14th in the NFL, with Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and Colston Loveland giving Chicago plenty of room to rise.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786124045788-kieorw.avif?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjEyNDA0NTc4OC1raWVvcncuYXZpZiIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYxMjQwNDcsImV4cCI6MjEwMTQ4NDA0N30.Ubo9QZRjfCxxRekt59oGm8Fb3lNsu4CQp81Qx5XuAFs",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-24T13:57:21.935801+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[27]=["News"],tags:$R[28]=["chicago bears","colston loveland","luther burden","pro football focus","rome odunze"],meta_title:"Bears receiving corps ranks 14th in PFF's NFL rankings",meta_description:"PFF ranked the Bears' pass-catchers 14th in the NFL, with Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and Colston Loveland giving Chicago plenty of room to rise.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Chicago Bears",reading_time_minutes:3,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[29]={id:"b3d40d91-ae12-4498-b1f2-31576b0a354b",wp_post_id:100000000102,title:"Chicago Bears 53-man roster prediction has some painful cuts entering final preseason week",slug:"chicago-bears-53-man-roster-prediction-final-cuts-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/24",published_at:"2026-08-24T13:23:44.708+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-24T13:23:44.708+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears have one preseason game left, and Ben Johnson still doesn't have complete clarity on his final roster.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That's not necessarily a bad thing.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson said after Saturday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that Monday's discussions with the personnel department would be important, particularly for \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/\">players on the bubble\x3C/a>. The Bears close the preseason Saturday against the Tennessee Titans before the roster must be trimmed from 91 players to 53 by 6 p.m. ET Sunday.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Several competitions remain legitimately unsettled. Running back, the final receiver spots, defensive-line depth and the secondary could all be affected by what happens during the final week.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Here's my Bears 53-man roster prediction entering the final week of the 2026 preseason.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787251722891-yvzm64.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzI1MTcyMjg5MS15dnptNjQud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODcyNTE3NDQsImV4cCI6MjEwMjYxMTc0NH0.fHFFSJYQ-irb2Lrt3I9xMWU-q7rbvE03O5_45JE5PSM\" alt=\"Caleb Williams Bears Bengals\">\x3Ch2>Quarterback (3)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>No drama here.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams is QB1, Bagent remains the primary backup, and the Bears have little reason to move on from the experience Keenum provides as their third quarterback. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Cut:\x3C/strong> Miller Moss\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Running total: 3\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786890160778-qucj0d.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4Njg5MDE2MDc3OC1xdWNqMGQud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODY4OTAxNjEsImV4cCI6MjEwMjI1MDE2MX0.auSOtdOewo4MpuqVONcP5_MRt0_djq9rtdy-oQLAzr8\" alt=\"Roschon Johnson\">\x3Ch2>Running back (4)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, Salvon Ahmed\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Here's our first tough call.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Swift and Monangai are locks, although Monangai's hyperextended knee has him week-to-week. The real decision is between Johnson and Ahmed, unless Chicago keeps both.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And that's exactly what I'm projecting.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Ahmed has earned it. He has provided the explosive element Chicago wanted to see this summer, and cutting him would risk losing a player who has consistently helped himself.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But Roschon isn't going away, either.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Ben Johnson specifically praised his special-teams performance after the Bengals game. It's an important detail because Johnson has repeatedly said that special teams will help decide the depth spots at running back. Johnson also mentioned Roschon has stacked successful performances, which bodes well for the fourth-year pro's odds of making the team.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>A lot can change in a week, but for now, I'm keeping both.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Running total: 7\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787499421734-h69vjh.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzQ5OTQyMTczNC1oNjl2amgud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc0OTk0MjIsImV4cCI6MjEwMjg1OTQyMn0.W46YFrcFr7keb7EwoEe9obhm-nAZoMoRnt66sWaBF58\" alt=\"Kaden Davis\">\x3Ch2>Wide receiver (6)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker, Kaden Davis\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kaden Davis has done enough.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He was one of the biggest stories of training camp, followed by four catches for 88 yards against Cleveland, and has shown the special-teams ability necessary for a sixth receiver.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Davis' quiet offensive performance against Cincinnati shouldn't outweigh an entire summer of production. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>Maurice Alexander isn't making this easy. His five-catch, 60-yard performance against Cincinnati was another reminder that Chicago has legitimate depth here. But if the Bears keep six, Davis gets the final spot.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Cuts:\x3C/strong> Maurice Alexander, JP Richardson, Scotty Miller, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Kaden Davis' other competitors\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Running total: 13\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786375539822-4yczaq.jpg?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjM3NTUzOTgyMi00eWN6YXEuanBnIiwic2NvcGUiOiJkb3dubG9hZCIsImlhdCI6MTc4NjM3NTU0MCwiZXhwIjoyMTAxNzM1NTQwfQ.cGLCuoOkVXTkZCdCICBz7lHkbjHw2lgMfqONtNTCYsU\" alt=\"Loveland\">\x3Ch2>Tight end (3)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Sam Roush\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Loveland and Kmet give Ben Johnson one of the NFL's more intriguing tight end combinations.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Roush gets the third spot. Chicago's offensive structure makes carrying three tight ends an easy decision.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Running total: 16\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786032756275-c9bxx0.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjAzMjc1NjI3NS1jOWJ4eDAud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYwMzI3NTcsImV4cCI6MjEwMTM5Mjc1N30.k7Bo8voVXs7-9zAI9yY-m59cL-KOaUsMJrN1vnhYQVA\" alt=\"Braxton Jones update\">\x3Ch2>Offensive line (10)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Ozzy Trapilo, Theo Benedet, Logan Jones, Luke Newman, Jordan McFadden\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The starting five appears increasingly straightforward: Braxton Jones, Thuney, Bradbury, Jackson and Wright.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Jones hasn't exactly slammed the door shut at left tackle. His holding penalty against Cincinnati derailed the starting offense's only possession, and the Bears have continued evaluating Benedet. But Jones remains the most logical Week 1 starter while Trapilo works his way back from his remarkable recovery from a torn patellar tendon.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The biggest cuts here would be Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills Jr.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Amegadjie entered camp with a legitimate chance to win the left tackle job but was eventually moved to the right side with the reserve unit. Wills has followed a similar path. Meanwhile, Benedet's versatility gives him value as the swing tackle.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Logan Jones is locked in as the developmental center behind Bradbury.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Notable cuts:\x3C/strong> Kiran Amegadjie, Jedrick Wills Jr., Caden Barnett\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Running total: 26\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786839612950-clf9pd.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjgzOTYxMjk1MC1jbGY5cGQud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODY4Mzk2MTQsImV4cCI6MjEwMjE5OTYxNH0.JkhDADJeP3PGT-0IB_cdRhlnr3fP6hkdAifQUIbkhgU\" alt=\"Jamree Kromah\">\x3Ch2>Defensive line/edge (10)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, Marcus Davenport, Daniel Hardy, Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter Sr., Neville Gallimore, Jordan van den Berg, Jamree Kromah\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Yes, I'm keeping Jamree Kromah.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kromah has been too disruptive this summer to risk losing him. He erupted against Cleveland and continued making his presence felt against Cincinnati. On a Bears defense desperate for more pass-rush production, I'd rather bet on the ascending player.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Jordan van den Berg has made the roster, too. Quite honestly, I'm not sure there's much of a debate. The sixth-round rookie has been one of Chicago's most consistently disruptive young defenders throughout camp and the preseason. His performance against Cincinnati only strengthened the case.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Davenport is difficult to evaluate because the Bears only signed him Aug. 17, but his familiarity with Dennis Allen and veteran pass-rush experience should get him onto the initial roster.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Keeping Kromah means making a difficult decision elsewhere. I'm cutting Kentavius Street.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Notable cut:\x3C/strong> Kentavius Street\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Injury watch:\x3C/strong> Shemar Turner\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Running total: 36\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787577731652-n8lb19.jpg?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzU3NzczMTY1Mi1uOGxiMTkuanBnIiwic2NvcGUiOiJkb3dubG9hZCIsImlhdCI6MTc4NzU3NzczMiwiZXhwIjoyMTAyOTM3NzMyfQ.JGSs89nQnb--vx511TSiFCkAeGIpBCDJAtP6OehBscQ\" alt=\"Devin Bush Bears\">\x3Ch2>Linebacker (5)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>T.J. Edwards, Devin Bush, D'Marco Jackson, Jack Sanborn, Ruben Hyppolite II\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Another fairly straightforward group.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Hyppolite gets the fifth spot after a stronger second training camp. Rookie Keyshaun Elliott's continued absence makes this decision easier if he remains on PUP. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Running total: 41\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787344385525-y1i6x9.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzM0NDM4NTUyNS15MWk2eDkud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODczNDQzODgsImV4cCI6MjEwMjcwNDM4OH0.7fLttac6drlLcHDil4CmxR9HWOFgxq9TXaadet2grZ4\" alt=\"Muhammad\">\x3Ch2>Cornerback (6)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad, Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones, Dontae Manning\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kyler Gordon's continued absence leaves open the possibility that he begins the season on reserve/PUP, which would require him to miss at least the first four games. Muhammad has handled nickel duties in Gordon's absence.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Stevenson is also now dealing with an injury that Johnson characterized as week-to-week, adding another variable entering the final preseason game.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Manning gets my final spot for now, although this is far from settled. He was terrible against the Bengals, and another bad performance against the Titans will get him the walking papers.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Don't be surprised if the Bears look outside the organization after cuts for a veteran cornerback.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Bubble:\x3C/strong> Dontae Manning, Beanie Bishop Jr., Deantre Prince\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>PUP:\x3C/strong> Kyler Gordon\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Running total: 47\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787009664307-bjclya.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzAwOTY2NDMwNy1iamNseWEud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODcwMDk2NjUsImV4cCI6MjEwMjM2OTY2NX0.oVcMiK5SKtVbK3NsC1Po6VKAkDck515GqffjOVvYR5I\" alt=\"Dillon Thieneman\">\x3Ch2>Safety (3)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Xavier Woods\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Three? Yes, three. And There's a reason.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Coby Bryant's knee injury is expected to sideline him for four to six months. Elijah Hicks' status also remains uncertain while he's on PUP.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That leaves Thieneman, Lewis, and Woods as the three I'm comfortable calling locks.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Skyler Thomas has helped himself and would be my next man up. His interception against Cincinnati came at an ideal time for a bubble player, and another strong game against the Titans could secure a spot on the final 53.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But I need the roster spot elsewhere.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Bubble/cut:\x3C/strong> Skyler Thomas\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>IR:\x3C/strong> Coby Bryant\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>PUP watch:\x3C/strong> Elijah Hicks\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Running total: 50\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Specialists (3)\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>K Cairo Santos, P Tory Taylor, LS Beau Gardner\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Easy.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears effectively ended the long-snapper competition when they waived Luke Elkin on Aug. 9, leaving Gardner as the guy.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Final total: 53\x3C/strong>\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Bears 53-man roster prediction\x3C/h2>\x3Cul>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>QB (3):\x3C/strong> Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>RB (4):\x3C/strong> D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, Salvon Ahmed\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>WR (6):\x3C/strong> Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker, Kaden Davis\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>TE (3):\x3C/strong> Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Sam Roush\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>OL (10):\x3C/strong> Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Ozzy Trapilo, Theo Benedet, Logan Jones, Luke Newman, Jordan McFadden\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>DL/EDGE (10):\x3C/strong> Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, Marcus Davenport, Daniel Hardy, Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter Sr., Neville Gallimore, Jordan van den Berg, Jamree Kromah\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>LB (5):\x3C/strong> T.J. Edwards, Devin Bush, D'Marco Jackson, Jack Sanborn, Ruben Hyppolite II\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>CB (6):\x3C/strong> Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad, Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones, Dontae Manning\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>S (3):\x3C/strong> Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Xavier Woods\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>ST (3):\x3C/strong> Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, Beau Gardner\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3C/ul>\x3Ch2>The toughest Bears cuts\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>There are four decisions I'd be watching particularly closely this week.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Roschon Johnson vs. Salvon Ahmed\x3C/strong> remains fascinating. Keeping four running backs isn't ideal from a roster-math perspective, but both have made legitimate cases. If the Bears insist on three, Johnson's special-teams value could give him the late advantage despite Ahmed's explosiveness.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Jamree Kromah vs. another defensive lineman\x3C/strong> might be even tougher. I'd have a difficult time exposing Kromah to waivers after the summer he's had.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Cstrong>Skyler Thomas\x3C/strong> is my painful cut. If Chicago carries only three running backs, Thomas is probably the first player I'd put back onto the roster.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Then there's the offensive line.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Amegadjie going from a legitimate candidate to start at left tackle to missing the 53 entirely would be a stunning fall for a 2024 third-round pick. But the Bears have moved both Amegadjie and Wills away from the first-team left tackle competition, while Trapilo's unexpectedly fast recovery has changed the numbers.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears' initial 53 won't necessarily be the roster that travels to Carolina. Once every NFL team makes its cuts, hundreds of players will hit the waiver wire. Given Chicago's uncertainty at defensive line and in the secondary, it would be surprising if Poles didn't at least investigate outside additions.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Johnson said this weekend that he's not merely trying to identify the best 53. He's looking for the best 69, knowing the practice squad will inevitably contribute during a 17-game season. That makes Saturday against Tennessee enormously important for the bottom third of this roster.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Some Bears will be playing for the 53. Others will be playing for the practice squad. And a handful could be playing their final snaps in Chicago.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"The Bears have one preseason game left and several difficult roster decisions looming. Here's our latest 53-man prediction before final cuts.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1787577329251-612w8l.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NzU3NzMyOTI1MS02MTJ3OGwud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODc1NzczMjksImV4cCI6MjEwMjkzNzMyOX0.kof7gyOGKtsPR1ySf2pty0f8H4wySvRThk-yFYR6etQ",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-24T13:00:23.75216+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[30]=[],tags:$R[31]=["2026 nfl season","53-man roster","chicago bears"],meta_title:"Chicago Bears 53-man roster prediction before final cuts",meta_description:"The Bears have one preseason game left and several difficult roster decisions looming. Here's our latest 53-man prediction before final cuts.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Bears 53-man roster prediction",reading_time_minutes:7,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1}]},ssr:!0}],lastMatchId:"�$year�$month�$day�$slug�2024�03�04�chicago-bears-wr-darnell-mooney-could-have-healthy-market-in-nfl-free-agency"})($R["tsr"]);$_TSR.e();document.currentScript.remove()</script><script type="module" async="" src="/assets/index-OW_cu-P8.js"></script></body></html>