The NFL Draft provides countless players with a moment that will be with them for the rest of their lives. Players put in years of hard work to hear their names called on draft day. A two-minute phone call is the culmination of their dream coming true. Unfortunately, it is also a beacon of disappointment and uncertainty for the players whose jobs they will be taking.
There are only 53 available spots on every roster. It’s a numbers game, and countless players on the roster bubble are forced to do the math after the draft. Likewise, there are countless instances where former starters will do the same song and dance. If their team drafted competition with a premium selection, they know the road ahead just got significantly more treacherous.
The Bears’ front office greatly improved the roster through free agency, which allowed them to go BPA through the draft. Likewise, that allowed them to massively increase the competition across the roster, which put a few players on notice.
Tyler Scott
Calling Tyler Scott’s career a disappointment would be an understatement. He might not have entered the NFL with high expectations as a fourth-round pick, but they certainly expected him to have more than 168 receiving yards through his first two years.
Even when Chicago fielded a depleted receiving corps after trading away Chase Claypool in 2023, Scott couldn’t move the needle. The team’s decision to sign Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay in free agency put him on notice. Meanwhile, the selection of Luther Burden III might’ve put the final nail in his coffin.
Scott is still only 23 years old and still has some untapped potential. However, it’s difficult to envision a scenario where he makes the roster without making strides on special teams, where he has previously been a non-factor.
Austin Booker
Speaking of untapped potential, Austin Booker is in a similar boat to Scott. The Bears added competition to his position through free agency and the draft. However, the fifth-round selection did show occasional flashes last year, and largely fell in line with his projections. Very few expected the raw edge rusher to make an early impact.
While the team technically didn’t draft an edge rusher, much to a large portion of the Bears faithful’s dismay, the selection of Shemar Turner with the 62nd pick fortifies their commitment to improving the competition along the defensive line. Likewise, they also signed 2021 second-round selection Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million contract this offseason. There’s no way around it- That’s starter money.
Between the additions of Turner, Odeyingbo, and respected veteran Grady Jarrett, the defensive line got significantly beefier. Meanwhile, Booker, who weighs in at 240 pounds, doesn’t fit the prototype of what new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen covets.
Booker can still carve out a role on defense if he shows up to training camp ready to play. However, the road ahead of him got significantly more difficult with the additions to the defensive line room. His roster spot could be tied to his ability to make waves on special teams, and it might be difficult to stand out there next to Daniel Hardy, who tied for the team lead with 11 tackles in that regard last year.
Braxton Jones
Unlike the other two entries on this list, Braxton Jones, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, is in no danger of making the final roster. He has flown under the radar as a solid starter through his first three seasons. As we’ve seen this offseason, Jones is the type of player who gets PAID in free agency. It sure seems like the Bears aren’t willing to back up the brink truck for him next year. They selected Boston College offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo with the 56th pick last week.
Jones is recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered late last season, which surely played a role in the selection. However, the 23-year-old has all the tools to become a quality starter in his own right. The Bears hope he will be ready for the season opener, but the made the wise move in prioritizing the protection of Caleb Williams’ blindside.
Even if Jones is ready to go week one, his leash will be significantly shorter than in years past. While some players need to sit for a year before they see the field, that isn’t the case with Trapilo. In fact, the coaching staff will probably want to know if they can trust him enough to hand him a starting job heading into next season, and they could do so at Jones’ expense.
As far as Jones’ future in Chicago goes, it appears the writing is already on the wall there. However, the way he plays this year will decide how nice of a house he can afford next offseason. If the Dan Moore Jr. signing in Tennessee is any indication, I think he will be just fine regardless, but getting benched for a second-round pick won’t be a great look.
Noah Sewell
Noah Sewell’s path to the third linebacker spot got significantly more difficult when the Bears selected University of Maryland linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II in the fourth round. I know the selection conjured a collective “Who?” from Bears’ fans, but they still saw enough in him to pick him when they did.
Hyppolite might have flown under-the-radar, but Chicago’s front office prioritized him over some highly regarded players at other positions. That’s bad news for the other ‘backers who hoped to take over the spot left by the departed Jack Sanborn.
Head coach Ben Johnson went on record to say the third linebacker spot is wide open. However, Sewell needs to come to camp ready to play and display improved instincts if he wants to see the field in Chicago’s base 4-3 defense.
Gervon Dexter Sr.
Gervon Dexter Sr. is another player who is not in danger of losing his roster spot. Playing time, on the other hand, is far from a guarantee. The team made a concerted effort to improve the talent of the defensive line room this offseason, and Dexter could fall victim to the increased depth.
Dexter showed flashes of dominance last season, when he got off to a strong start and had four sacks in the first five games. Unfortunately, he faded down the stretch and only brought opposing QB’s down one more time the rest of the way.
The 23-year-old is still far from a finished product and will surely be involved in the defensive line rotation. However, it’s safe to say he’s been put on notice with the additions of Grady Jarrett and Shemar Turner, who are both ideal fits for the three-technique role in new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense.
There have been some rumblings that Dexter could move outside and fill the defensive end role, but there is also increased competition there with the aforementioned Odeyingbo signing. A player undergoing a position change entering year three is also far from a harbinger of a breakout season.
