(Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports)
LAKE FOREST, Ill., — The Chicago Bears don't have a depth chart at the moment, which is pretty standard during this time of the NFL offseason. Right now, head coach Ben Johnson is getting a feel for his roster, and while the biggest competition is at left tackle, there's an open competition on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Chicago enters this offseason with Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards as their starting linebackers in Dennis Allen's defense, but that third spot is still up for grabs at strongside linebacker. And Johnson noted that during Friday's press conference on day one of rookie minicamp.
"We'll find out. We certainly have an open competition," Johnson said. "We feel really good, obviously, about TJ and Tremaine and what they've done over the course of not just last year but the last few years in this league. Really comfortable there. But that third spot, it's up for grabs and so we do have a prototype. DA's got a prototype for what that SAM would look like."
With Jack Sanborn now in Dallas, Noah Sewell appears to be the frontrunner as he goes into his third year.
The former Oregon standout has played on just 32 defensive snaps in his career so far but has played a lot on special teams, earning playing time there. He was mentioned by Johnson as a player who has come in and shown a lot of good things early on.
"We got a lot of scenarios going on in our heads right now of what that could be but we know for sure until we get the pads on," Johnson said. "Obviously, Noah Sewell's been in the building and he's shown a lot of good things over the last few weeks and we've got a good mix of other guys in that room as well."
The Bears do have other options as well.
They drafted Ruben Hyppolite out of Maryland on day three and with his speed, Allen could use him in more exotic sets asking him to get after the quarterback. We could see a lot of linebacker disguises on obvious passing downs as well. Veteran Amen Ogbongbemiga as well as Carl Jones are also on the roster and will be in the competition as well.
Chicago doesn't have a lot of experience in terms of players competing for this job but having two linebackers like Edwards and Edmunds will help. And this is a battle that should last deep into the offseason.