Roster cuts usually aren’t a big story, and it was predictable who [the Bears](https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears) would say goodbye to as they dropped from 90 players to 53 on Tuesday.
The most important questions are at the top of the roster, and the Bears got clarity in three critical areas heading toward their Sept. 8 season opener against the Vikings:
**Offensive line**
They kept a surprising 10 offensive linemen on the active roster, including all four competitors for the starting left tackle job: Braxton Jones, Ozzy Trapilo, Kiran Amegadjie and Theo Benedet.
While coach [Ben Johnson](https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/01/21/blending-from-variety-of-influences-new-bears-coach-ben-johnson-looks-to-make-them-smarter-quicker-bolder) played coy when asked to name a starter, all signs point toward Jones. None have given decisive performances to set themselves apart, so Jones essentially won it by default.
Johnson seemed unenthusiastic about the overall play at left tackle over the past month.
“We’re going to have a starter Week 1 and we’ll go from there,” he said. He added that he’s “not afraid to make a change if the performance isn’t where it needs to be.”
Bears general manager Ryan Poles put major resources into the offensive line by trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signing center Drew Dalman to go along with former first-round pick Darnell Wright at right tackle. It’s troubling that the Bears did all that work and still don’t have a solid answer at left tackle.
There’s some projection involved with Jones as the team bets on him improving as he continues to regain strength following a broken ankle last season, as well as some forecasting on how the three young players will develop. All of that is based on hope, though, rather than concrete evidence.
**Wide receivers**
One of the most surprising players to make the roster was wide receiver Jahdae Walker, an undrafted rookie from Texas A&M. By keeping Walker, the Bears are investing in his long-term upside.
They’ve got clear top options at wide receiver in DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, and the only question is whether Odunze is poised to step to the top of the pecking order. Veteran Olamide Zaccheaus held off challengers like rookie Luther Burden III and was one of quarterback Caleb Williams’ most frequent targets throughout training camp.
Zaccheaus, 28, is coming off one of the best seasons of his career with 45 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns for the Commanders.
Burden will be intriguing because Johnson pushed for him in the draft at No. 39 overall, but in the short term, he’s more likely to play in a limited number of specific packages.
**Defensive line**
The Bears have had the NFL’s least productive pass rush over the last three seasons and allowed the fifth-most yards rushing in the league last season. The deficiencies up front have undercut their roster building at linebacker and in the secondary.
Have they fixed it? Everything still revolves around defensive end Montez Sweat, the team’s highest-paid player this season with a $25.1 million salary-cap hit, and Poles said he “is in really good shape, ready to go.” The Bears signed Dayo Odeyingbo to start opposite Sweat, and he has a lot to prove after just 16 1/2 sacks in his first four seasons and now playing on a three-year, $48 million deal.
At defensive tackle, veteran Grady Jarrett looks ready for a huge bounce back after tearing his ACL in 2023 and having a down season in 2024. He has been a force at the line of scrimmage, and his impact should have a ripple effect on young defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and throughout the line.
Defensive line depth was a priority for Poles, and it’s undetermined how much the Bears have. Second-round pick Shemar Turner missed most of the preseason with an ankle injury, Andrew Billings missed half of last season with a torn pec and young defensive ends Dominique Robinson and Austin Booker have a combined 3 1/2 career sacks.