The Bears are a team in transition. After spending a couple seasons at the bottom of the NFL, the team has higher expectations for 2023. 

Much of this offseason has been focused on adding talent to the roster, not removing it. However, when you add talent, some current players will be left out. 

Today, I want to take a look at a few possible cut candidates that would surprise fans. 

Trevis Gipson, DE

Gipson started 10 games on the edge for the Bears in 2022. The results were not great, with Gipson collecting just three sacks and 31 tackles. This offseason, the Bears added DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green who have both shown flashes of being above-average pass rushers. 

Additionally, the team has 2022 fifth-rounder Dominique Robinson who has looked solid in a rotational role. After starting seven games as a rookie in 2022, Robinson ended the season with 30 tackles and 1.5 sacks. It's possible the team could think highly enough of Robinson to move on from Gipson. 

The Bears' pass-rush was abysmal in 2022, and the team would be smart to start anew.  

Kindle Vildor, CB

Vildor would be a surprising cut after playing a large role with the Bears in 2022. However, the play of rookie Tyrique Stevenson could deem Vildor expendable. 

Kyler Gordon will be the nickel, and Jaylon Johnson will be one of the outside corners. That leaves the other outside spot to either Stevenson, Vildor, Greg Stroman or Jaylon Jones. If Stevenson is as good as advertised, the job should be his to lose. 

Vildor collected one INT and 34 tackles after starting in seven games and ended with a subpar 59.4 PFF grade. Johnson, Gordon, Stevenson, and Terrell Smith are locks, meaning just one spot could be left. If the team decides to roll with Stevenson as a starter, Vildor may be left out. 

Velus Jones Jr., WR

The Bears entered the 2022 season with the worst wide receiver room in the NFL. That will not be the case in 2023. Chase Claypool was traded for at the 2022 trade deadline and DJ Moore was traded for at the 2023 NFL Draft.

Moore and Claypool are joined by Darnell Mooney, rookie Tyler Scott, and likely Equanimeous St. Brown as roster locks. That means likely just one WR spot is available. Jones will be competing against Dante Pettis, Daurice Fountain, Nsimba Webster, and a couple of UDFAs for the last spot. 

Jones has always been more of a gadget player than a traditional receiver. Jones was not much of a factor as a receiver in 2022, collecting just seven catches for 107 yards. As a returner, Jones had 22 returns for 607 yards with a long of 63 yards. Would the Bears use their final receiver spot on a returner? Pettis and Scott both return and provide more as a receiver than Jones. 

Jones is the type of player that would thrive on a contender. The Bears likely can't afford to use a roster spot on a gadget player. 

Featured image via © Kamil Krzaczynski | 2023 Mar 16