The Chicago Bears believe they have a strong roster. This is true. There isn’t a position on it that doesn’t have at least one good starter. Their primary concerns lay with depth in certain areas. Particularly offensive tackle, tight end, and outside linebacker. These are problems that could potentially be solved on the waiver wire in the next few days. The deadline for teams to cut down their rosters from 90 players to 53 must be finished by August 31st at 4 p.m.
Chicago won’t be the only team scouring the landscape for potential help. Odds say they’ll add maybe one or two players at most depending on who becomes available. After doing some research and getting a feel for depth charts around the league, I’ve compiled a list of 31 potential cuts, one from every team that may fit in with either a prominent Bears need or just a talent that fits what they like to do.
Likely cuts the Chicago Bears can target from each team
Arizona Cardinals: Pharoh Cooper (WR)
The Cardinals spent an enormous amount of money and draft capital to load up on wide receivers. This has put Cooper squarely behind the 8-ball. He’s never been much of a receiver, but he was an All-Pro kick returner back in 2017. It’s hard to ignore that type of value.
Atlanta Falcons: Austin Larkin (EDGE)
Edge rusher appears relatively set for the Falcons, which makes it difficult for a kid like Larkin to make headway. He’s shown considerable improvement after a quiet rookie year in 2018. His pass rush skills are better and he’s a willing participant on special teams.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Baltimore Ravens: Shane Ray (OLB)
The former 1st round pick showed lots of early promise in Denver but injuries slowed his progress. Now he’s caught in a log jam in Baltimore and likely to be released. He’s still young though and may be a better pass rush option as a #4 than anything the Bears currently have.
Buffalo Bills: Conor McDermott (OT)
A former 6th round pick of the Patriots, McDermott didn’t last long there. He soon landed with Buffalo in 2018 where he has served as a backup. A giant at 6’8, he certainly has the look of somebody who can start in the NFL. Maybe Harry Hiestand can get something out of him.
Carolina Panthers: Andre Levrone (WR)
Bears fans got a nice look at Levrone when the two teams met in the preseason. The young receiver came across as impressive, making some nice catches. He has a 6’2 frame and a reliable pair of hands. If the main roster is out of the question, Levrone should be a practice squad must.
Cincinnati Bengals: Christian Westerman (OG)
This would be a closet steal for the Bears. Westerman is a former 5th round pick who somehow continues to get overlooked. He’s good enough to start and has played well in the brief opportunities he’s received. After a strange disconnect with the coaches in Cincinnati, it seems like he needs a fresh start.
Cleveland Browns: Wyatt Ray (EDGE)
The Browns appear relatively deep at defensive end. This is why Ray hasn’t had a real chance to get noticed. An undrafted free agent out of Boston College, he has pass rush potential and could be a better fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker given his size. He plays with toughness and tenacity.
Dallas Cowboys: Jake Campos (OT)
Few teams love to load up on offensive linemen like the Cowboys. This means it’s likely they may have to let go of one or two good players because they only have so many spots. Campos is one such example. While the tackle is far from perfect, he has lots of potential.
Denver Broncos: Dadi Nicolas (OLB)
Bad luck seems to follow Nicolas. He just can’t seem to stick on a roster despite having some clearly intriguing traits as an athletic edge rusher. He’s caught in a numbers game with the Broncos and unlikely to survive. This is somebody the aggressive Chuck Pagano might like.
Detroit Lions: Dee Virgin (CB)
Aside from his unfortunate name, Virgin is actually a decent football player. Not only has he allowed just one catch on four targets with two pass breakups this preseason, he also has experience on special teams. If the Bears aren’t confident in who they presently have, he’s worth a look.
Green Bay Packers: Lane Taylor (OG)
The veteran guard had regressed quite a bit in 2018, giving up eight sacks. Though to be fair he wasn’t helped by Aaron Rodgers constantly holding the ball as often as he did. Taylor may not be a starter anymore, but at age 29 he still should have some decent value as an experienced backup.
Houston Texans: Martinas Rankin (OL)
Looking back on the former 3rd round pick, it feels like the Texans have played him out of position. They’ve tried to get him going at guard. That doesn’t feel like his best spot. He’s been far more effective whenever they’ve played him at tackle where his athleticism and movement greater strengths.
Indianapolis Colts: Kai Nacua (S)
It’s difficult to understand why Nacua hasn’t been able to stick on a roster. He’s big for a safety at 6’2, not a total liability in coverage, and shows a good capacity for both run defense and blitzing. The kid has skill. It feels like all he needs is an opportunity. The Bears have three safeties becoming free agents next year.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Saivion Smith (CB)
Smith came out of college too early. He is an athletic corner with good size but raw in several mechanical areas. He’s also trapped on a depth chart that is pretty much set at the position. His profile as a press cover man fits what the Bears coaches like in their corners, so this isn’t a hard sell.
Kansas City Chiefs: Pace Murphy (OT)
It’s only natural the Bears would have interest in Chiefs offensive linemen. The two teams run highly similar schemes. Murphy has had a strong preseason, not allowing a sack and only two pressures. That along with his four years of experience could make him a nice swing tackle possibility.
Los Angeles Chargers: Anthony Lanier (DE)
You may not know the name. That doesn’t mean Lanier is a nobody. He had five sacks in 2017 with the Redskins as a rotational pass rusher. Unfortunately, his decision to move on to the Chargers ruined his momentum. Now he’ll be looking for new opportunities.
Los Angeles Rams: Landis Durham (EDGE)
Durham is another of those young edge rusher prospects who appear to have some worthwhile assets if he’s in the right system. The Rams run a 3-4 defense like the Bears and may try to sneak Durham, who has two sacks this preseason, onto their practice squad.
Miami Dolphins: Dwayne Allen (TE)
Allen never became the dual-threat tight end many had hoped. That doesn’t mean he lacks value though. Even at 29-years old, he is one of the better blocking tight ends in the league. Given the struggles of Bradley Sowell, this may some a relatively cheap veteran option that makes sense.
Minnesota Vikings: Bene Benwikere (CB)
Mike Zimmer knows good cornerbacks and his signing of Benwikere reflected that. A stacked roster though may not let the veteran survive. A shame because he’s a solid player. He’s not always perfect but was reliable despite moving between Arizona and Oakland last year. He’d be quality, experienced depth.
New England Patriots: Obi Melifonwu (S)
Teams were enamored with Melifonwu leading up to the 2017 draft. Not many guys are 6’4, jump over 40 inches and can post a 4.4. in the 40. He was a freak of nature with limitless potential. Injuries though have stunted his progress. Pagano is a defensive backs specialist. It might be worth the risk.
New Orleans Saints: A.J. Derby (TE)
Derby is a longtime reserve tight end who has played in some diverse offenses. He’s been well-coached and has some versatility as a pass catcher. Nobody will say he is a hidden gem but if the Bears are looking for quality depth he provides at least that much.
New York Giants: Terrence Fede (OLB)
The Giants have switched to a 3-4, so their edge rusher stable goes in line with what the Bears are running. Fede has had a solid preseason but more high profile additions will likely squeeze him off the final roster. He’s nothing flashy. Even so, he has some juice.
New York Jets: Luke Falk (QB)
Tyler Bray is no longer eligible for the practice squad and the Bears have to start thinking beyond Chase Daniel. Luke Falk was a standout player at Washington State. He also ran the type of offense that holds similarities to what Nagy and Helfrich employ. He could be a nice developmental project.
Oakland Raiders: David Sharpe (OT)
Big offensive tackles don’t always fly in today’s NFL because of the need for athleticism to handle fast edge rushers. In order to adapt, the bigger guys need to learn the proper technique. It would appear Sharpe as done that this preseason and his mauling style is certainly something else to like.
Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Sweat (EDGE)
It seems people are divided on whether Sweat will make the final roster. Some think it’s unusual to give up on a 4th round pick after just one year. Still, if that ends up happening it would be hard to pass up a 6’5 edge rusher with his caliber athleticism. Even with the health setbacks, he has lots of upside.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Ulysees Gilbert III (ILB)
The Rams are in a conundrum. They want to keep Gilbert III on the roster but appear to not have the necessary space to do so. He’s stood out as a tackler, a blitzer, and a special teams gunner this preseason. It’s possible they may try to sneak him onto the practice squad. Big mistake?
San Francisco 49ers: Joshua Garnett (OG)
A former 1st round pick, there were high hopes for Garnett. He had the size, power, and technique of a long-term starter in the NFL. Sadly injuries have gotten in his way. What’s crazy is he’s still only 25-years old. There may be a chance, however shrinking, that he can live up to at least some of that potential.
Seattle Seahawks: Shaquem Griffin (OLB)
It felt like Griffin was never the best fit in Seattle. They tried to make him an off-the-ball linebacker when his greatest success at UCF was as a pass rusher. His quickness, underrated speed, and non-stop motor led to quarterbacks always having to know where he was.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jordan Leggett (TE)
Leggett was such a productive player at Clemson. He’s continued to show he can do similar things in the NFL. Yet he rarely gets a chance to play. This despite having a 6’5 frame and a proven track record catching passes. Given the uncertainty at the position for the Bears, he’s worth a look.
Tennessee Titans: MyCole Pruitt (TE)
Another of those underrated athletic tight ends who can run and catch but for one reason or another isn’t really given a chance. Pruitt doesn’t have imposing size but understands how to make catches when the ball comes his way. He’s also improved steadily on special teams over the years.
Washington Redskins: Samaje Perine (RB)
Perine was a standout back at Oklahoma and many felt he’d become the starter in Washington. However, as with many on this list, injuries got in the way. When healthy is a solid back who runs with good vision, strength, and can be a threat on screens.
