Breaking Down the Chicago Bears Roster After the 2014 Draft
Now that the 2014 NFL draft has come and gone, Chicago Bears fans have a better idea of what their team is going to look like heading into the 2014 season.
The Bears made eight selections in the draft and hope that many rookies, if not all of them, can contribute in their rookie seasons.
To get a better understanding of what the roster is going to look like moving forward, we will take a look back at what the team has already done this offseason via free agency and cuts. Then we will determine what we think the depth chart will be heading into OTAs, minicamps and training camp with the additions via the draft.
Here is our breakdown of the Chicago Bears roster after the 2014 draft.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Projected Starter: Jay Cutler
Current Backups: Jordan Palmer, Jerrod Johnson and David Fales (Rookie)
After the Bears signed Jay Cutler to a seven-year deal this offseason to stay in Chicago, the main focus at the quarterback position turns to who will be backing him up in 2014.
The Bears caught lightning in a bottle last season with backup Josh McCown, who made five starts and eight total appearances while filling in for the injured Cutler. In those eight appearances, McCown threw for 1,829 yards and 13 touchdowns to one interception and was named NFC Player of the Week for his performance against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
His 2013 performance priced him out the Bears' price range, and he signed a two-year deal worth $10 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March.
The team re-signed veteran Jordan Palmer earlier this offseason and appear content heading into training camp with him as the No. 2 behind Cutler.
"Emery reiterated his confidence in Jordan Palmer's ability to be the No. 2 QB.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) May 1, 2014"
Heading into the draft, the only other quarterback on the roster after Cutler and Palmer was former Texas A&M Aggie Jerrod Johnson.
He spent time with the team last year on the practice squad, but he will face stiff competition from sixth-round draft pick David Fales this offseason.
Fales gives head coach Marc Trestman his own hand-picked quarterback project and will likely start the season as the No. 3 signal-caller.
Running Back
2 of 10
Projected Starters: Matt Forte and Tony Fiammetta (Fullback)
Current Backups: Michael Ford, Shaun Draughn, Ka'Deem Carey (Rookie), Jordan Lynch (Undrafted Rookie) and Willie Carter (Fullback)
In 2014, Matt Forte will look to build off his Pro Bowl 2013 season when he finished second in the league in rushing yards with 1,339.
He has been one of the most versatile running backs since entering the league in 2008, and he is expected to continue to flourish in Marc Trestman's West Coast offense.
While Forte is expected to remain the workhorse of this team in 2014, Phil Emery drafted Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey in the fourth round to help lessen Forte's load.
The team parted ways with backup Michael Bush earlier this offseason, and Carey should have no problem beating out Michael Ford and Shaun Draughn to be the No. 2 behind Forte.
After the draft concluded, the team made a relatively big signing in terms of the undrafted free-agent market when it inked a deal with former Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch.
Despite that he spent his collegiate career as a quarterback, the team plans on using him as a running back this season.
"The #Bears signed Heisman Finalist QB Jordan Lynch from Northern Illinois, which we knew. What we didn’t know: He’s listed as a RB.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 11, 2014"
It will be an uphill battle for Lynch this offseason, but if he can improve on a day-to-day basis, he might have a shot at making this team as a third running back/special teams contributor.
Wide Receiver
3 of 10
Projected Starters: Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery
Current Backups: Marquess Wilson, Josh Morgan, Eric Weems, Domenik Hixon, Josh Bellamy, Terrence Toliver and Chris Williams
Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery were arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL in 2013, and barring injuries, that should not change in 2014.
While they will be getting their fair share of footballs thrown their way by Cutler, the third wide receiver will play a prominent role in 2014.
Marquess Wilson appears to be the front-runner for that spot, but veterans Josh Morgan and Domenik Hixon will likely challenge him this offseason.
The team cut veteran Earl Bennett this offseason when he refused to take a pay cut, and Eric Weems might be on thin ice despite agreeing to a pay cut earlier this offseason.
Weems will likely be competing with Josh Bellamy, Terrence Toliver and Chris Williams for a role as a special teams contributor.
Tight End
4 of 10
Projected Starter: Martellus Bennett
Current Backups: Dante Rosario, Fendi Onobun, Zach Miller and Matthew Mulligan
A free-agent signing last offseason, Martellus Bennett gave quarterbacks Jay Cutler and Josh McCown a reliable target in the middle of the field in 2013.
He had a big year last season, notching career highs in catches (65) and yards (759) and tying his career high in touchdowns with five.
He will once again sit atop the depth chart at the tight end position in 2014, but questions remain about who will back him up.
Dante Rosario was Bennett's main backup in 2013, and Fendi Onobun spent the season on the practice squad, but neither is a lock to make the squad in 2014.
The team signed Zach Miller to a reserve/futures contract at the end of the season and signed veteran Matthew Mulligan to a one-year deal in April.
Rosario, Onobun, Miller and Mulligan will all compete for the final two rosters spots at training camp later this summer.
Offensive Line
5 of 10
Projected Starters: Jermon Bushrod, Matt Slauson, Roberto Garza, Kyle Long and Jordan Mills
Current Backups: Eben Britton, James Brown, Joe Long, Rogers Gaines, Brian de la Puente, Taylor Boggs, Charles Leno Jr. (Rookie), Ryan Groy (Undrafted Rookie), James Dunbar (Undrafted Rookie) and Cody Booth (Undrafted Rookie)
The Bears offensive line was vastly improved in 2013, and it does not appear that there will be any changes to the starting five in 2014.
Eben Britton and Brian de la Puente appear to be the only locks to make this roster as backups this season, which leaves the rest of the offensive lineman to vie for only a handful of roster spots.
James Brown, Taylor Boggs, Joe Long and Rogers Gaines were with the team last season and will be facing stiff competition from a group of rookies that is headlined by seventh-round pick Charles Leno Jr. and undrafted free agent Ryan Groy.
Brown and Boggs both give the team flexibility and stand a good shot of making the team out of training camp.
Leno Jr. has experience playing both right and left tackle but is likely better suited playing inside at guard. Groy has the flexibility to play multiple positions along the offensive line after starting at left tackle, left guard, center and fullback at Wisconsin.
While the starting five are fairly set in stone, the competition to see who backs them up in 2014 should be one of the more intriguing storylines of training camp this summer.
Defensive Line
6 of 10
Projected Starters: Lamarr Houston, Stephen Paea, Jeremiah Ratliff and Jared Allen
Current Backups: Israel Idonije, Nate Collins, Ego Ferguson (Rookie), Will Sutton (Rookie), Willie Young, Cornelius Washington, Trevor Scott, Tracy Robertson, Austen Lane, David Bass, Brandon Dunn (Undrafted Rookie) and Lee Pegues (Undrafted Rookie)
No other position group has received more focus from the front office this offseason than the defensive line.
After releasing Julius Peppers in March and watching Henry Melton sign with the Dallas Cowboys in free agency, Phil Emery wasted little time in addressing the team's need at defensive end once free agency began, signing Lamarr Houston to a five-year deal on March 11.
The team was not finished at the defensive end position, and not long after the addition of Houston, the Bears added another starting-caliber defensive end in former Detroit Lion Willie Young. They made their biggest splash in free agency in the form of Jared Allen, who signed a four-year contract in late March.
After addressing the defensive end position in free agency, Emery focused on the defensive tackle position in the draft.
He took LSU's Ego Ferguson in the second round and Arizona State's Will Sutton in the third round.
Sutton thinks the future is bright for the Bears' defense, with him and Ferguson manning the middle of the defensive line in the years to come.
"I bet they think that us two could make a good tandem together, either he plays nose and I play 3-tech or vice versa," Sutton said of Ferguson on a conference call last Friday night, per Kevin Fishbain of ChicagoFootball.com. "Wherever they want us to play, I feel like us two can come in and really do some damage."
Depending on how quickly they adapt to the NFL, they both have shots at becoming major contributors in 2014.
Despite listing Stephen Paea as a projected starter, he may become expendable if Ferguson can develop quickly.
Linebacker
7 of 10
Projected Starters: Lance Briggs, D.J. Williams and Jon Bostic/Shea McClellin
Current Backups: Jerry Franklin, Khaseem Greene, Jordan Senn, Christian Jones (Undrafted Rookie), Lawrence Wilson, DeDe Lattimore (Undrafted Rookie) and Tana Patrick (Undrafted Rookie)
Phil Emery made it clear after the draft that the linebacker position was going to be an open competition this summer, except for one spot:
"Emery on LB position: "Best players win." Lance Briggs is the only one that has a starting job right now.
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) May 11, 2014"
Lance Briggs will be the starter at weak-side linebacker in 2014, but both the middle linebacker and strong-side linebacker spots appear to be an open competition.
Veteran D.J. Williams will likely end up being the starter at middle linebacker, leaving Jon Bostic and Shea McClellin to duke it out for the strong-side linebacker position.
McClellin is making the transition from defensive end to linebacker, while Bostic is trying to overcome a shaky rookie season in 2013.
One wild card could be undrafted free agent Christian Jones.
He reportedly failed a drug test at the NFL combine in February, which likely caused him to go undrafted. He has the flexibility to play all three linebacker positions and may end up pushing Bostic and McClellin at strong-side linebacker.
Cornerback
8 of 10
Projected Starters: Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings and Kyle Fuller (Rookie)
Current Backups: Isaiah Frey, Kelvin Hayden, Demontre Hurst, Derrick Martin, Sherrick McManis, Derricus Purdy, C.J. Wilson and Sean Cattouse
The Bears locked up their starting cornerback duo from 2013 this offseason when they re-signed both Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman.
The two are expected to resume their roles as starters in 2014, and they will have a new face lining up next to them at the nickelback position in first-round pick Kyle Fuller.
"Va Tech's Kyle Fuller fills a need for #Bears. Physical CB with 4.4 speed, coverage skills & the ability to play inside at Nickel.
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) May 9, 2014"
He is listed as a starter because of how often he will likely be on the field with more and more offenses leaning toward using three- and four-wide receiver sets.
While Tillman, Jennings and Fuller are the three givens at the position, Isaiah Frey and Kelvin Hayden both stand a good shot of making the team out of training camp because of their experience.
C.J. Wilson and Demontre Hurst both spent time on the practice squad last season. One or both could wind up being surprise additions to the team's 53-man roster with a strong showing in training camp.
Safety
9 of 10
Projected Starters: Ryan Mundy and Brock Vereen (Rookie)
Current Backups: M.D. Jennings, Chris Conte, Craig Steltz and Danny McCray
Despite having the most struggles of any position on the Bears in 2013, the safety position only underwent minor changes this offseason.
The team's big splash came with the signing of Ryan Mundy on the first day of free agency. He will mostly likely enter the 2014 season as the starting strong safety.
While Mundy is the likely starter at strong safety, Phil Emery has claimed that the safety position will be a wide-open competition.
"Current safety positions are wide open race according to Emery. #Bears.
— Jeff Joniak (@JeffJoniak) May 1, 2014"
The incumbent free safety starter from 2013, Chris Conte, is expected be out four to five months after undergoing shoulder surgery in late March, via Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com.
With Conte sidelined due to injury, veteran M.D. Jennings will likely compete with fourth-round pick Brock Vereen to be the starter at free safety.
Jennings struggled as a starter over the past few seasons in Green Bay and may only be looked at as depth and a special teams contributor.
Vereen has experience playing all four positions in the secondary and appears to be the front-runner for the free safety position because of his speed, athleticism and range.
Special Teams
10 of 10
Kicker: Robbie Gould
Punters: Pat O'Donnell (Rookie), Tress Way and Drew Butler
Long Snappers: Brandon Hartson and Chad Rempel
Prior to the end of the 2013 season, the Bears locked up kicker Robbie Gould, signing him to an extension through the 2017 season.
He has consistently been one of the league's best kickers since he debuted in 2005, and that should not change in 2014.
The team parted ways with punter Adam Podlesh after his net average declined from 2011 to 2013 season, going from 40.4 to 37.9 yards per punt.
The Bears appeared set to go into training camp with Tress Way and Drew Butler competing for the job, but they drafted Pat O'Donnell in the sixth round over the weekend.
He likely has the best shot to win the job, considering the stellar 43.45 yards per punt he averaged during his four collegiate seasons.
The status of veteran long snapper Patrick Mannelly is still up in the air following hip surgery after the 2013 season.
"Addition of Rempel does not impact Pat Mannelly's situation. Expect a decision on him to return from hip surgery in May or June.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) April 7, 2014"
All roster information courtesy of ChicagoBears.com.
Matt Eurich is an NFL/Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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