Chicago Bears organized team activities, usually referred to as OTAs, begin on May 22. And while it’s unreasonable to react to on-field performance for players like Justin Fields and his array of pass-catchers, there will be noteworthy clues about how the Bears intend to configure the starting lineup.
In this post, we’ll break down what the depth chart could look like on offense.
There aren’t too many question marks in the starting lineup. The offensive line was settled with the selection of Darnell Wright in the first round, and while the order of receivers after DJ Moore is up for debate, the top three pass-catchers will be the top three.
Let’s dive in.
Quarterback:
QB1: Justin Fields
QB2: PJ Walker
QB3: Nathan Peterman
Practice Squad: Tyson Bagent
Bears Talk Take: No surprises here. Fields is the guy. Walker was signed in free agency to be his backup. And while Bagent has an NFL arm, he’ll need a year of seasoning on the practice squad before he can challenge for an active roster spot.
Running Back:
RB1: Khalil Herbert
RB2: D’Onta Foreman
RB3: Roschon Johnson
RB4: Travis Homer
Bears Talk Take: This is one of the toughest position groups to project on the roster. However, there are some basic principles to rely on when predicting who will be the starter. First, Herbert has achieved a high level of success in Luke Getsy’s offense. He’s the only running back on the roster who won’t experience a learning curve, and he has the most big-play ability. Foreman, meanwhile, was signed in free agency to conceivably be the replacement for David Montgomery in short-yardage and goalline situations. He’s a talented player who can work his way into the starting lineup, but it’ll take some time to get there. Johnson is a rookie; he’ll need to earn his reps over the first month of the season, and Homer is a special-teamer who offers good value in a rotation if one of the top two runners gets hurt.
Wide Receiver:
WR1: DJ Moore
WR2: Chase Claypool
WR3 (Slot): Darnell Mooney
WR4: Tyler Scott
WR5: Equanimeous St. Brown
WR6: Velus Jones Jr.
Bears Talk Take: The top four on this list are pretty much chalk. The one surprise may be St. Brown ahead of Jones Jr., but the former third-round pick from Tennessee had an abysmal rookie season last year. If Jones doesn’t flash early in training camp and the preseason, his spot on the active roster will be in jeopardy. St. Brown, meanwhile, offers upside in the run game and is at least a functional big-bodied receiver.
Tight End
TE1: Cole Kmet
TE2: Robert Tonyan
TE3: Chase Allen
Bears Talk Take: Kmet and Tonyan may eventually play themselves into a co-starter role by midseason. There are a lot of Kmet supporters within the Bears fan base, but Tonyan brings playmaking ability and experience in Luke Getsy’s system to Chicago. He’s a good receiver, and if he proves he’s more capable in that department than Kmet, his rep count could surpass the former Golden Domer. And don’t sleep on Allen, who also brings receivers traits to the position.
