The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the start of organized team activities (OTAs), which kick off May 22.
General manager Ryan Poles added plenty of new faves on defense, most notably at linebacker with Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. He shored up the defensive line with Andrew Billings, DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green in free agency. He also added some impact players in the draft with Gervon Dexter, Tyrique Stevenson, Zacch Pickens and Terell Smith.
Chicago’s defense is looking to rebound following a brutal 2022 season, where they struggled to get after the quarterback and stop the run. We’ll see if Poles’ latest additions can help remedy that.
We’re projecting what the Bears’ defensive and special teams depth chart looks like ahead of OTAs, where there should be plenty of competition.
Edge rusher
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string | Other |
| DE | DeMarcus Walker | Rasheem Green | Jalyn Holmes | Jalen Harris |
| DE | Trevis Gipson | Dominique Robinson | D’Anthony Jones |
The Bears still have some work to do at edge rusher, but the group is headlined by Walker, Gipson, Green and Robinson. Look for Chicago to add another veteran to the mix.
Interior defensive line
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string | Other |
| DT | Justin Jones | Zacch Pickens | Andrew Brown | Donovan Jeter |
| DT | Andrew Billings | Gervon Dexter | Travis Bell |
The Bears upgraded the interior of the defensive line with the additions of Billings, as well as drafted Dexter and Pickens, who will be key rotational pieces with Jones and Billings.
Linebacker
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string | Other |
| WLB | T.J. Edwards | Sterling Weatherford | DeMarquis Gates | |
| MLB | Tremaine Edmunds | Noah Sewell | Terrell Lewis | Micah Baskerville |
| SLB | Jack Sanborn | Dylan Cole | Kuony Deng |
The Bears overhauled the linebacker position and free agency, and the team’s starting linebackers are set with Edwards, Edmunds and Sanborn. But the team landed a potential steal in Sewell, who will be key depth and a special teams contributor.
Cornerback
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| CB | Jaylon Johnson | Kindle Vildor | Terell Smith |
| CB | Kyler Gordon | Josh Blackwell | |
| CB | Tyrique Stevenson | Jaylon Jones | Greg Stroman Jr., Michael Ojemudia |
The Bears found a quality third cornerback in Stevenson, who they traded up for in the second round of the draft. He’ll join Johnson and Gordon in the defensive backfield. Smith, a fifth-round selection, should serve as key depth behind Johnson.
Safety
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string | Other |
| FS | Eddie Jackson | Elijah Hicks | Adrian Colbert | Macon Clark |
| SS | Jaquan Brisker | Kendall Williamson | A.J. Thomas | Bralen Trahan |
There’s no doubt that Jackson and Brisker will lead a strong safety group for Chicago. While DeAndre Houston-Carson remains unsigned, that could mean an increased role for Hicks in his second season. The Bears also drafted Williamson late in the seventh round.
Special teams
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string |
| K | Cairo Santos | Andre Szmyt |
| P | Trenton Gill | Ryan Anderson |
| LS | Patrick Scales |
The Bears re-signed Scales to a one-year deal to keep their special teams trio in tact heading into 2023. Chicago has consistency with their core specialists in Santos, Gill and Scales, who are heading into their second year together. The team also added competition at kicker with undrafted rookie Szmyt.
Projected starting defense, special teams
| DE | DeMarcus Walker |
| DT | Justin Jones |
| DT | Andrew Billings |
| DE | Trevis Gipson |
| LB | Tremaine Edmunds |
| LB | T.J. Edwards |
| CB | Jaylon Johnson |
| CB | Kyler Gordon |
| CB | Tyrique Stevenson |
| S | Eddie Jackson |
| S | Jaquan Brisker |
| K | Cairo Santos |
| P | Trenton Gill |
| LS | Patrick Scales |
