Three most interesting Bears positional battles this offseason

The Bears head into the summer with as settled of a roster as they have had in the Ryan Poles era.

After drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, head coach Matt Eberflus announced there would be no QB battle and that Williams is the team's QB1. It's a noteworthy change from how the team handled the development of Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields.

While just about every position opened OTAs with a presumed designated starter and backup there still remains a few position battles that fans will keep their eyes on throughout the summer.

Center

The biggest battle the Bears have on the roster is who will be snapping the ball to Williams this season. Chicago traded a fifth-round pick to Buffalo for Ryan Bates and acquired Coleman Shelton in free agency this offseason. Bates and Shelton join Doug Kramer, a sixth-round pick in last year's draft, as the three centers on the Bears roster.

Bates has largely been the backup in Buffalo over the past five seasons. His one season as a starter - 2022 at right guard - Bates finished with a 63.5 passing grade and a 58.0 run block grade. His 32 total pressures allowed ranked 16th most in the league that season.

Shelton had been a backup for the Rams since 2019 before earning the starting center role last season. His 74.6 run block grade ranked 12th best among centers in the league, Bates struggled in the passing game, allowing 36 total pressures, the second most among centers last season.

Kramer is the longshot of the three, having not registered a snap during his rookie season. In five years with Illinois, Kramer allowed just five sacks and 34 total pressures.

Dec 24, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Ryan Bates (71) blocks against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. © Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Line

Chicago's lone addition to the defensive line this offseason was drafting Austin Booker in the fifth-round. Beyond stud pass rusher Montez Sweat, the overall look of the defensive line room is going to rely on the development of their returning players. It was a unit that registered the second-fewest sacks in the league last season.

DeMarcus Walker – who will most likely line up opposite Sweat – will need to develop off his 3.5 sacks from last season. The more interesting watch will be on interior and who lines up alongside veteran Andrew Billings.

Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens are heading into their second-year and will be looking to grab some of the snaps of the since departed Justin Jones. Dexter registered 29 pressures in 433 snaps last season, while Pickens had eight pressures in 264 snaps.

QB2

With QB1 already settled, the battle in the quarterback room now turns to who the backup will be. Chicago didn't bring in a veteran to help mentor Williams, instead choosing to go with a trio of undrafted free agents: Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien and Austin Reed.

Bagent is likely the leader in the clubhouse to be named the backup after going 2-2 while throwing for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions in starting duty last season.

Rypien has bounced around the league since going undrafted out of Boise State in 2019. The 27-year-old has made four starts in his career going 2-2 while throwing for 950 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Reed, a 2024 undrafted free agent, is the most intriguing prospect after an illustrious college career. Split between the FBS and FCS levels over six years, Reed threw for 15,586 yards, 149 touchdowns and 41 interceptions at West Florida and Western Kentucky.