4 position battles to watch during Bears training camp
That includes a new of position battles that bear watching, and head coach Ben Johnson sounds excited for the competition. While most of the training camp battles will come at positions that serve as mostly depth purposes, there's one crucial battle happening at left tackle that will be the most intriguing to watch.
With Bears training camp getting underway, let's take a look at the top position battles to monitor throughout the summer -- where there are several rookies who could turn heads.
Left tackle
Backup quarterback
Third linebacker
Cornerback
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Darnell Wright (No. 9)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Next up at No. 9 is right tackle Darnell Wright, who will be key to the offensive line's success and protecting quarterback Caleb Williams. Background Position: Right tackle Age: 23 Experience: 3rd season 2025 cap hit: $5.7 million 2024 recap Wright is a rising star at right tackle, and he's coming off an impressive second season with Chicago where he started in 16 games and missed just one. He was a lone bright spot along an offensive line that allowed a league-high and franchise-record 68 sacks on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams (six of those were allowed by Wright). Wright was the fifth-highest graded right tackle, per Pro Football Focus, at 79.3 -- and that was on one of the NFL's worst offensive lines. He thrived both as a pass blocker and run blocker, but he was better in the run game (82.2) than pass protection (75.4). 2025 outlook Wright is the only starting offensive lineman guaranteed to start under this new regime in 2025. He's entering his third year as the starting right tackle, and this is easily the best supporting cast he's had since being drafted by Chicago. The Bears overhauled the entire interior with guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman. Now, Wright will anchor the right side with Jackson, where protecting quarterback Caleb Williams is the most important thing. While there was a brief moment where it appeared the Bears might consider moving Wright to left tackle, with Braxton Jones sidelined by injury, Wright is too valuable at right tackle and there's now an open competition on the left side. Wright has consistently been a solid pass protector and run blocker, and this could be the year where he takes a massive step in what could be a key year for his future in Chicago. Big question: Will Wright play his way into a contract extension? General manager Ryan Poles has rewarded players for their productive play, and it seems like Wright could very well be in line for a contract extension as early as next offseason. Wright has quietly been one of the Bears' most dependable offensive linemen -- along some pretty bad lines -- and he's come as one heck of a bargain. While most starting right tackles make between $10-15 million per year, Wright will cost $5.7 million against the cap in 2025 and $6.6 million in 2026. But Chicago will have to pay him at some point, as they've paid other cornerstones on offense and defense. So, if the Bears are wise, they'll strike while the iron is hot -- during the 2026 offseason -- and lock Wright down to an affordable long-term extension to keep a core member of the offensive line in place for the foreseeable future. Given Wright's performance in his first two seasons -- with some struggling lines -- the stage is set for him to be even more productive in Year 3 and play his way into an extension. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 #30 - RB Roschon Johnson #29 - QB Case Keenum #28 - K Cairo Santos #27 - DT Andrew Billings #26 - CB Tyrique Stevenson #25 - WR Luther Burden III #24 - RG Jonah Jackson #23 - LB Tremaine Edmunds #22 - DE Dayo Odeyingbo #21 - S Kevin Byard #20 - S Jaquan Brisker #19 - LB T.J. Edwards #18 - TE Cole Kmet #17 - DT Grady Jarrett #16 - DT Gervon Dexter #15 - RB D'Andre Swift #14 - TE Colston Loveland #13 - OT Ozzy Trapilo #12 - OT Braxton Jones #11 - WR DJ Moore #10 CB Kyler Gordon #9 - OT Darnell Wright #8 - Coming 7/22 #7 - Coming 7/23 #6 - Coming 7/24 #5 - Coming 7/25 #4 - Coming 7/26 #3 - Coming 7/27 #2 - Coming 7/28 #1 - Coming 7/29 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Most Important Bears of 2025: Darnell Wright (No. 9)
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Rome Odunze (No. 5)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Next up at No. 5 is wide receiver Rome Odunze, who's poised for a breakout year after a modest rookie season as the third wideout in a dysfunctional offense. Background Position: Wide receiver Age: 23 Experience: 2nd season 2025 cap hit: $5.16 million 2024 recap The Bears drafted Odunze just eight spots after Caleb Williams in the 2025 NFL draft, and it was clear the franchise has high hopes for both top-10 picks. Odunze was the third wide receiver selected, but he didn't a breakout season like Malik Nabers of the New York Giants or Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Still, Odunze had a respectable rookie season with 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns despite being the third receiver behind veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen and in a dysfunctional offense marred by coaching ineptitude and poor offensive line play. He played the second-most snaps among Bears receivers and eclipsed 100 targets (101) on the season. Odunze had just two games with 100-plus receiving yards, but he showed a ton of potential -- including his chemistry with Williams -- in an expanded role in an improved offense. 2025 outlook With Keenan Allen departing in free agency, Odunze is set to take on an expanded role as the second receiver behind DJ Moore. And with the arrival of new head coach Ben Johnson, Odunze is poised to be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He should benefit from the coaching additions of Johnson and receivers coach Antwaan Randle-El, as well as continuing to build his chemistry with Caleb Williams. Chicago used a premium draft selection on Odunze with the belief that he can develop into a playmaker for this offense for years to come -- and serve as a dynamic duo with quarterback Caleb Williams. Perhaps Odunze fills the Amon-Ra St. Brown role in this Ben Johnson offense. And there are some who believe Odunze could even pass up Moore as WR1 at some point this season. Big question: Will Odunze have a breakout year under Ben Johnson? Throughout the offseason, many NFL analysts have pegged Odunze as a breakout contender for the 2025 season. And it's easy to see why. Odunze flashed potential as the third receiver in a struggling offense. Now, he gets one of the NFL's best offensive minds in Ben Johnson to lead the way. Odunze was underutilized as a rookie, and Johnson is exactly the guy to maximize the young wideout's skillset. While there are a number of weapons on this roster and just one ball to go around, Odunze should wind up being a top target for Caleb Williams as the young duo continues to build their chemistry. The Bears brought Johnson to Chicago to revive this team -- and the offense -- and there's no one better to get the most out of Odunze than Johnson and receivers coach/assistant head coach Antwaan Randle-El. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 #30 - RB Roschon Johnson #29 - QB Case Keenum #28 - K Cairo Santos #27 - DT Andrew Billings #26 - CB Tyrique Stevenson #25 - WR Luther Burden III #24 - RG Jonah Jackson #23 - LB Tremaine Edmunds #22 - DE Dayo Odeyingbo #21 - S Kevin Byard #20 - S Jaquan Brisker #19 - LB T.J. Edwards #18 - TE Cole Kmet #17 - DT Grady Jarrett #16 - DT Gervon Dexter #15 - RB D'Andre Swift #14 - TE Colston Loveland #13 - OT Ozzy Trapilo #12 - OT Braxton Jones #11 - WR DJ Moore #10 CB Kyler Gordon #9 - OT Darnell Wright #8 - DE Montez Sweat #7 - C Drew Dalman #6 - CB Jaylon Johnson #5 - WR Rome Odunze #4 - Coming 7/26 #3 - Coming 7/27 #2 - Coming 7/28 #1 - Coming 7/29 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Most Important Bears of 2025: Rome Odunze (No. 5)
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: DJ Moore (No. 11)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Next up No. 11 is wide receiver DJ Moore, who could be one of the biggest beneficiaries with the arrival of new head coach Ben Johnson. Background Position: Wide receiver Age: 28 Experience: 8th season 2025 cap hit: $24.9 million 2024 recap Moore signed a massive four-year, $110 million extension before the start of the 2024 season, keeping one of the team's most important players under contract through 2029. Unfortunately, what followed was an underwhelming season for Moore, who still had a career-high 98 receptions for 966 yards (leading the team) and six touchdowns. But it came on the heels of a career year in 2023. Moore and quarterback Caleb Williams had some connection issues at times, but that's something that will be fixed with reps. Not only production wise, but Moore was criticized for his poor body language at times during last year's disastrous 5-12 record that included a 10-game losing streak. It was an overall forgettable season for all, but there's nowhere to go but up. 2025 outlook Moore remains the undisputed No. 1 wideout with the Bears as new head coach Ben Johnson steps in to run the offense. Despite a down year where he finished just shy of 1,000 receiving yards, Moore has the potential to thrive in Johnson's offense. At times last year, Moore looked frustrated and body language is something this new coaching staff has already emphasized. Winning should also help that. But, with some young players in that receiving room, Moore needs to step up as a leader. There will be no shortage of weapons for quarterback Caleb Williams, but Moore figures to be one of his favorites as the pair continue to build their chemistry. While there are a lot of mouths to feed on offense, if Moore returns to form, he could be eyeing his fifth 1,000-yard season. Any way you look at it, Moore appears poised for a bounce back season in Johnson's first year. Big question: Will Moore thrive in Ben Johnson's offense? Moore has been the Bears' top wideout since he was acquired in a mega trade back in 2023. In his first season with Chicago, Moore had a career year with 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns. His receptions ranked ninth-best for a single season in franchise history, his yards fourth best and his touchdowns 15th best. Unfortunately, Moore regressed in his second season with Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator (at least for half of the season) with 98 receptions for 966 yards and six scores. Now, with one of the NFL's brightest offensive minds in Ben Johnson leading the charge, the expectation is for this Bears offense to soar -- and Moore could be one of the biggest beneficiaries. Although, there are no shortage of weapons -- including Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III -- so it won't be all on Moore to help elevate this offense. But he should remain a favorite target for Caleb Williams with potential to excel in the slot. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 #30 - RB Roschon Johnson #29 - QB Case Keenum #28 - K Cairo Santos #27 - DT Andrew Billings #26 - CB Tyrique Stevenson #25 - WR Luther Burden III #24 - RG Jonah Jackson #23 - LB Tremaine Edmunds #22 - DE Dayo Odeyingbo #21 - S Kevin Byard #20 - S Jaquan Brisker #19 - LB T.J. Edwards #18 - TE Cole Kmet #17 - DT Grady Jarrett #16 - DT Gervon Dexter #15 - RB D'Andre Swift #14 - TE Colston Loveland #13 - OT Ozzy Trapilo #12 - OT Braxton Jones #11 - WR DJ Moore #10 - Coming 7/20 #9 - Coming 7/21 #8 - Coming 7/22 #7 - Coming 7/23 #6 - Coming 7/24 #5 - Coming 7/25 #4 - Coming 7/26 #3 - Coming 7/27 #2 - Coming 7/28 #1 - Coming 7/29 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Most Important Bears of 2025: DJ Moore (No. 11)
