Chicago Bears: 4 fringe players who could surprise and make roster
By Ryan Heckman
As the Chicago Bears kick off their OTAs, things are starting to get real. The thick of the offseason madness is over.
Free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft are behind us, and the roster is ready to start taking shape. While we know most of the starters at this point, it’s the tail end of the roster that’s always fun to watch throughout the summer months.
A lot can change between now and Week 1. Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus know they are in a crucial second year with the Bears, and are set up for much more success this coming season than they were a year ago.
With some of the bottom spots on the depth chart up for grabs, could we see some players surprise us and make the team by September? Let’s look at four of those candidates, in particular.
Bralen Trahan might surprise and make the Chicago Bears 2023 roster
The Bears’ safety group is led by Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker, but behind them it’s a little muddy. Last year’s rookie Elijah Hicks and this year’s seventh-round pick Kendall Williamson are the likely backups, right now.
Behind those two, the Bears have A.J. Thomas, Adrian Colbert, and undrafted rookies Macon Clark and Bralen Trahan.
Depending on what Trahan projects as, whether it’s safety or even at nickel, the Bears could use someone in the secondary to step up and solidify themselves as a backup, and Trahan could do it. While Hicks and Williamson might have the inside track to secure the backup jobs, since they come from Poles’ draft capital, Trahan is worth watching.
Last year, Trahan played in all 14 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns and totaled 40 tackles, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery and an interception.