Windy City Gridiron
NFL training camps are in full swing, with the first full weekend of preseason games right around the corner. The Chicago Bears have been one of the more active teams in the league this offseason, and while the roster is never truly “set,” Chicago has a pretty good idea of what they are working with here in early August.
Although we’ve heard it repeatedly, 2025 feels like a year where the Bears’ roster is at one of its strongest points in recent memory. Because of that, there aren’t a lot of open jobs, at least on the surface. Injuries and camp surprises will always play their roles, which could explain why the team kept its undrafted class relatively small. Here are three key names to watch in August, and three others that could impress enough to stick on the roster or earn a practice squad spot.
S Major Burns (LSU)
Heading into the draft, most fans expected safety to be one of the sneaky priorities for the Bears. Due to the board’s fall, they had to bypass a position that doesn’t have a full-time player under contract for 2026. The lack of certainty in the future and a lack of upside on the current roster led the Bears to take a pair of swings on two of the top undrafted names. Burns appeared in 39 games at LSU and was a reliable player in their secondary. Physically, he’s impressive at 6’2, 207 pounds and an 8.22 RAS. He has the ability to play center field, but his lack of playmaking ability and physical nature might be better suited for an in-the-box role. General manager Ryan Poles noted in his post-draft interview with ESPN 1000 that both Burns and Tysheem Johnson must show value on special teams to earn a roster spot in 2025.
Why he’s got a shot: During Poles’ post-draft radio interview with ESPN 1000, he acknowledged the team’s uncertainty at safety next year and beyond. Kevin Byard is in the final year of his two-year contract and will turn 32 before the start of this season. Jaquan Brisker is a former second-round pick, but he has struggled with availability, including his second NFL concussion that cost him most of last season. Elijah Hicks, a former seventh-round pick, has improved each year since coming into the league but has yet to log an interception, despite playing over 800 NFL defensive snaps. Veteran Jonathan Owens is in the final year of his deal.
Primary Competition: Jonathan Owens and Elijah Hicks
Owens and Hicks provide experienced depth in a safety room with one starter who has had some injury issues (Brisker) and another, who, while durable (Byard), will be 32 in a couple of weeks. With an eye toward the future, the more expendable player would be Owens. Allen likes to keep at least 10 defensive backs on the roster, which means that four, maybe five, safeties should make the final roster. With Hicks showing some promise over the past two...
