Michael C. Wright 10y

Chicago Bears' projected roster

Examining the Chicago Bears' roster:

QUARTERBACKS (3)

  • Jay Cutler

  • Jimmy Clausen

  • David Fales

Despite recently signing, Jimmy Clausen quickly gained ground on Jordan Palmer at the club's veteran minicamp and appears poised to unseat the latter for the No. 2 job behind Cutler. The team likes Fales' long-term potential, and it will look to keep him on the roster as a developmental prospect to groom in Marc Trestman's scheme.

RUNNING BACKS (4)

  • Matt Forte

  • Ka'Deem Carey

  • Tony Fiammetta

  • Michael Ford

Forte's role in the offense is expected to evolve somewhat, and the team added an interesting between-the-tackles grinder in Carey, who is arguably the most physical back of the entire 2014 class. Fiammetta will stay in his role as fullback, and Ford will contribute mostly on special teams if he can't claim the primary backup role behind Forte.

RECEIVERS (5)

  • Brandon Marshall

  • Alshon Jeffery

  • Marquess Wilson

  • Josh Morgan

  • Eric Weems

Marshall and Jeffery will get an opportunity to prove they're the league's best duo at the position in 2014. Wilson comes into the season with high hopes and the expectation that he'll grow into the No. 3 role. Morgan and Weems will be pushed by all the young prospects at camp, but their experience and reliability will win out.

TIGHT ENDS (2)

  • Martellus Bennett

  • Matthew Mulligan

This is a position where it might make sense to add a third player. Bennett clearly is the team's best all-around tight end, while Mulligan excels as an in-line blocker. Zach Miller is more of a receiving tight end than all-around blocker, but if the Bears go with three tight ends, either he or Dante Rosario could get the call.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10)

  • Roberto Garza

  • Kyle Long

  • Matt Slauson

  • Jermon Bushrod

  • Jordan Mills

  • Brian De La Puente

  • Eben Britton

  • Taylor Boggs

  • James Brown

  • Charles Leno Jr.

The case could be made that offensive line is one of the team's strongest position groups, which is somewhat strange given all the struggles the Bears have experienced in recent years there. The starting five from 2013 return for 2014, and the Bears also have some prime candidates should they decide to reload up front, as Britton and De La Puente are capable of starting.

DEFENSIVE LINE (10)

  • Jared Allen

  • Lamarr Houston

  • Willie Young

  • Jeremiah Ratliff

  • Stephen Paea

  • Ego Ferguson

  • Will Sutton

  • Nate Collins

  • Trevor Scott

  • Austen Lane

Look for veterans at the bottom of the roster such as Scott, Lane and Collins to be pushed tremendously by several of the youngsters at training camp. Injuries in 2013 made this position group a weakness, but the Bears made sure to load up on the defensive line through the draft and free agency.

LINEBACKERS (6)

  • Lance Briggs

  • D.J. Williams

  • Jonathan Bostic

  • Shea McClellin

  • Christian Jones

  • Jordan Senn

The Bears will have difficult decisions to make here, and we believe Jones, an undrafted rookie, is talented enough to make the team. Khaseem Greene has improved, but it will likely come down to him and Senn for that final linebacker spot, which Senn might win because of his abilities as a special-teamer.

CORNERBACKS (5)

  • Charles Tillman

  • Tim Jennings

  • Kyle Fuller

  • Kelvin Hayden

  • Isaiah Frey

The depth chart here is pretty set in stone, but first-rounder Fuller will definitely see plenty of time on the field.

SAFETIES (4)

  • Chris Conte

  • Brock Vereen

  • Ryan Mundy

  • Adrian Wilson

Both starting spots are up for grabs, but Conte probably won't be ready for the start of camp. If he doesn't recover quickly, he could wind up losing his roster spot. We've got Wilson making the cut, but his odds are long; he has to prove he's still got something left in the tank.

SPECIALISTS (4)

  • Robbie Gould

  • Pat O'Donnell

  • Chad Rempel

  • Chris Williams

Williams is the only question mark among the specialists, and he's being pushed hard by Micheal Spurlock, Armanti Edwards and Josh Bellamy.

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