Bears' Position Battles to Watch Ahead of 2024 NFL Season

The Chicago Bears only have a few positional questions to answer ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

Chicago built its roster up nicely under general manager Ryan Poles in preparation to land a star quarterback prospect in Caleb Williams.

Clarifying which players will start in positions of question may not be viewed as a primary summer objective from the outside because of all the attention on Williams, but those roster decisions will help the Bears become a more complete team.

The Bears need to figure out which player will start opposite Montez Sweat on the defensive line and who will be snapping the ball to their quarterback of the present and future.

The added emphasis on kickoffs could make the returner competition intriguing in Chicago since the team has a few wide outs who need to play bigger roles on special teams.

Defensive End Opposite Montez Sweat

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LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 05: DeMarcus Walker #95 of the Chicago Bears lines up during an NFL football game between the Washington Commanders and the Chicago Bears at FedExField on October 05, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Chicago has two options to start on the other side of Sweat.

DeMarcus Walker is the incumbent on the outside of the defensive line.

Walker produced 3.5 sacks in his first season with the Bears in 2023.

He will be in direct competition with rookie Austin Booker, who had 13 tackles for loss and eight sacks in his collegiate career.

The Walker-Booker competition will be the classic training camp case of veteran-versus-rookie.

Whichever player emerges as the starter needs to complement Sweat's pass-rushing capabilities so that opponents do not automatically throw two players to block the star defensive end in every game.

Center

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Coleman Shelton #65 of the Los Angeles Rams blocks during a game against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium on December 21, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

Coleman Shelton, Ryan Bates and Doug Kramer are Chicago's three center options going into training camp.

Shelton should be viewed as the favorite to snap to Williams in 2024. He had a solid year at center with the Los Angeles Rams last season.

The Bears signed Shelton and Bates in free agency to have competition at the position, but when you compare the two, Shelton has the edge on experience.

That will not win Shelton the job alone, but if he keeps the same level he played at in Los Angeles last season, he should complete the offensive line.

Bates could be fighting for a roster spot elsewhere if he impresses but still loses out on the job to Shelton.

Kick and Punt Returner

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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 07: Velus Jones Jr. #12 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball in the first half against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 07, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Velus Jones Jr., Dante Pettis and Tyler Scott do not have a clear path to playing time at wide receiver.

All three players are in competition to be the No. 4 pass-catcher, but more importantly, they could be fighting for the kick and punt returner job.

Jones filled that role for the last two seasons, but he has had a few fumbles and return mistakes in his career.

Pettis averaged seven or more yards per return in two of his NFL seasons, but his biggest issue has been staying healthy.

Scott may be a better fit for the No. 4 wide out role because of the promise he displayed last season, but with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze on the roster, his best chance to make an impact may be in the return role.

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