Nobody thought much about it when the Chicago Bears signed Alec Ogletree. It made perfect sense. They needed depth at inside linebacker. Josh Woods and Christian Jones were both out with health issues. He also had ties to assistant coach Bill McGovern. As somebody with lots of proven starting experience, it was a pretty easy decision. No doubt the Bears thought they were getting somebody who might compete for one of those last spots on the depth chart.

Then in the span of four days, things drastically changed. In that time Ogletree intercepted not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but six passes. Six interceptions in four practices. By a linebacker. That is insane. Especially considering he came in ice cold with zero knowledge of the defensive system prior to his arrival. This has led some to speculate that he is well on his way to securing a roster spot.

Alec Ogletree has 6 interceptions in his first 4 practices with the #Bears.

So what are the veteran inside linebacker's chances of making the roster? Well, it will improve if he keeps making plays at this rate.

Examining the situation.https://t.co/8OUqoqPnzn

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 8, 2021

Here’s the thing though.

That may not be the limit of what he can accomplish. There are still weeks to go before the regular season begins. A lot can happen in that space of time. What if Ogletree continues to produce big plays during that time? One has to admit the greater possibility. That the veteran may put himself into a position where he unseats Danny Trevathan as the starter opposite Roquan Smith.

That may sound crazy. Trevathan has been an unquestioned starter on this defense since 2016. He’s widely viewed as a prominent team leader. Would the Bears actually consider benching him in favor of a newcomer like Ogletree? If the coaches are serious about the roster competition, they will. For all the experience and leadership Trevathan brings, it’s also impossible to deny he is getting older. Most would agree he took a step back last season.

Alec Ogletree is younger and better in coverage than Trevathan

While he remains a solid run defender and decent blitzer, Trevathan has become a liability in coverage. He has no interceptions the past two seasons. Last year was his worst yet with opposing QBs boasting a 118.4 passer rating when throwing in his vicinity. In the pass-happy world of the modern NFL? This is a problem. One that Ogletree seems much better suited for.

During his two years working with McGovern in New York, the linebacker snagged six interceptions. In 2018, quarterbacks had just a 74.5 passer rating when throwing in his direction. He is also 29-years old. Two years younger than Trevathan. While nobody would accuse him of being a star, Alec Ogletree is an underrated player. One who has been overlooked due to playing on a lot of bad football teams.

Now, all of this being said?

The odds of it happening are low. Ogletree would have to maintain a pretty strong pace in practices and the preseason to convince coaches he is ready to unseat Trevathan. Even so, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that he’s off to a great start. Stories like this are why people love football. It is so unpredictable. Even if it doesn’t end up happening, the Bears still seem to have strengthened their linebacker position regardless.