Chicago Bears training camp: Which notable players might not survive roster cuts?

4. Daniel Braverman

If there’s something that Chicago Bears fans love as much as any outright star, it’s an underdog, try-hard guy making an impact despite not being as big, strong or athletic as all the other guys. That, along with visions of Julian Edelman dancing through their heads, is partly why many love Braverman, last year’s seventh-round pick, and training camp star.

Unfortunately, Braverman’s workmanlike mentality and shifty quickness won’t guarantee him a roster spot in what has become a very crowded receiver room.

The Skinny

Though Braverman will get plenty of opportunities this summer, he simply might be too far behind the curve to meaningfully contribute in the NFL.

Though he has decent speed and agility, his route-running last year was worse than expected for a slot receiver. Without elite athleticism, he struggled to separate from non-Bears cornerbacks during pre-season games. Furthermore, he displayed a surprisingly little aptitude for special teams, looking lost as a return man especially.

And this year, the receiver position will involve some serious number-crunching, making Braverman’s case of making the roster a tough one. Assuming that Kevin White, Cameron Meredith, Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright are more or less locks to make the roster, where does that leave everyone else?

In theory, a healthy Victor Cruz should probably still be good enough to earn a spot. Bellamy has special teams value, even if he’s infamous for not catching the football. Can you say with certainty that Braverman is better than Rueben Randle or undrafted rookie Tanner Gentry? I don’t think you can.

Sure, he’s a Bears draft pick (albeit a seventh-rounder) and turned heads in camp last season. But unless he proves that he’s improved a lot since last season, Braverman could be facing another trip to the practice squad by final cuts.