Chicago Bears: Post-2021 NFL Draft 53-man roster projection

Projecting the 2021 Chicago Bears secondary

Cornerbacks: Jaylon Johnson, Desmond Trufant, Thomas Graham Jr., Duke Shelley, Kindle Vildor, Artie Burns, Nickell Robey-Coleman

Cornerback is definitely still a position of weakness, if you want to call it that. The Bears might see an unlikely hero in rookie sixth-round pick Thomas Graham Jr. who comes in and steals away the slot job. Graham was one of the top-100 ranked players by a few outlets, yet fell to pick no. 228 for the Bears.

This spot, as a whole, is all based around health. The health of Jaylon Johnson and Desmond Trufant is paramount to the group’s success. If we’re basing it off last year, the Bears are in deep waters. Both Johnson and Trufant had injury woes in 2020, and must stay healthy for the Bears’ secondary to have success in 2021.

The one big move here is that I have the Bears signing free agent Nickell Robey-Coleman who could challenge for the slot job as well. He was a solid part of the Los Angeles Rams’ secondary for a little while before they decided not to bring him back.

Safeties: Eddie Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Deon Bush

The safety group is also one that could have been addressed in the draft, but should be in good shape for at least the 2021 campaign. Eddie Jackson is obviously the best of the bunch, and needs to be given more freedom to make plays on the ball. Hopefully Desai puts him in that position.

Bringing back Tashaun Gipson was a great move that costs the Bears little. He played very well last year next to Jackson and came up with a handful of big plays, even. DeAndre Houston-Carson and Deon Bush are both excellent reserves, and have been with the team for a few years now. Having the continuity there with both of them will come into play often, as it did last year.