Chicago Bears: An Updated Post-Draft Depth Chart

Linebackers

Inside

ILB: Danny Trevathan, John Timu, Joel Iyiegbunwie, Niles Morgan

ILB: Nick Kwiatkowski, Roquan Smith, Jonathan Anderson

We should expect Smith is the starter early in the preseason. I would also like to note that Kwiatkowski may get shifted to outside linebacker, which should allow to get the best players out on the field.

To a degree, the same goes for Joel Iyiegbunwie (Jo-elle Ee-yay-boo-nee-way). I like Timu as a two-down thumper, but he can’t be on the field for passing downs. Perhaps the very athletic “Iggy” will overtake him before the preseason’s end.

Although this position wasn’t a current need for the Bears, Ryan Pace perhaps perceived it as a future need. I like where this group is because there is a ton of competition and they got younger by the end of the draft.

Outside

ROLB: Leonard Floyd, Isaiah Irving, Kylie Fitts, Cavon Walker

LOLB: Aaron Lynch, Sam Acho, Howard Jones, Elijah Norris

Let’s get one thing straight: the edge-rusher market in free agency and in the draft was not very deep. I’m at least happy that Ryan Pace didn’t reach on any prospects nor did he overspend in the marketplace.

That said, this position needs to addressed next season because this is not a strong group. It’s one possible Floyd injury away from being a very weak one.

Behind him and Lynch, it’s not super inspiring. Sam Acho has had plenty of emergency snaps the last couple of years but doesn’t have a ton of pass-rushing skills. Isaiah Irving was a star of the preseason, however, he too needs more moves. However, with those two, you could do worse for rotational bodies.

Health permitting, Kylie Fitts may be a really nice find late in the sixth round. I think he did himself some favors at the Senior Bowl by showing off some of the pass rushing moves. There are some durability concerns he dealt with at Utah. He suffered a foot injury in 2016, missing all but two games. He was held out of four games last fall with an assortment of injuries. All in all, he does have potential as a designated pass rusher.