Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears: 5 Veterans who won't survive 2017 training camp

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:02 p.m. ET

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Between now and the end of 2017 training camp, the Chicago Bears will be faced with some difficult decisions that could result in seasoned veterans being cut.

The last year or so has been brutal for the Chicago Bears. It started with a miserable 2016 campaign that ended with a 3-13 record and the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Then the Bears swung and missed during free agency, and put together a questionable-at-best draft class.

Now, they head into OTAs and training camp with more question marks than they came into the offseason with. Will the "upgrades" they made during free agency be enough to make them relevant again? Will Ryan Pace's unorthodox approach during the draft turn out well, or will it cost him his job? So many questions to answer in the coming months.

For now, though, it seems right to focus on how this roster could turn out. With offseason activities set to begin soon, I wanted to take a look at a few veteran players who may not survive training camp. Whether it's due to a lack of talent or too much incoming competition, a few notable names won't make the cut come September.

With that in mind, let's take a look at five Bears veterans who will be shown the door during 2017 training camp. One or two of these may come as surprises, but most of them make a lot of sense when you think about it.

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5. Rueben Randle, WR

Realistically, there are a number of noteworthy names who could fail to earn a spot on Chicago's receiver depth chart. However, of all of the options, Rueben Randle seems most likely to fall well short of cracking the 53-man roster in 2017.

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Once seen as an up-and-coming complementary option, Randle has since watched his stock plummet. The New York Giants threw in the towel on the inconsistent receiver last offseason, and he failed to stick around with the Philadelphia Eagles after that. Now in Chicago, he faces similar odds of seeing regular-season action.

While wide receiver is a weakness for the Bears, they don't lack able bodies at the position. At this moment, the depth chart boasts 11 players, headlined by Kevin White and Cameron Meredith. Behind them, competition for a contributing role is essentially wide open. That, however, doesn't mean Randle stands much of a chance during training camp.

The former second-round pick will face off against players such as Kendall Wright, Deonte Thompson and Daniel Braverman for the No. 4 at best. With so much competition for those jobs, though, I don't see Randle's time in the Windy City lasting long.

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4. Johnthan Banks, CB

Man, how Johnthan Banks' career took an ugly turn for the worst. A 2013 second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he looked like a rising star but quickly came crashing down to bust status. Now, he finds himself on his third team in the last year.

Banks landed with the Bears late last season, seeing some action in the final weeks. Although he wasn't a complete disaster, the Mississippi State product continued to be a liability against the run and wasn't much better in coverage. Put simply, he didn't appear ready to turn his NFL fortunes around in Chicago.

And yet, the Bears gave him another opportunity. Unfortunately for Banks, they also gave a number of other cornerbacks chances to earn a roster spot at one of their weakest positions. With three free agent additions, it's not going to be easy for a busted Day 2 selection to secure a spot on the depth chart.

When all is said and done, Banks won't even come close. He's going to have to beat out as least two experienced candidates for a job, which I don't see happening. Assuming he falls short in Chicago, Banks' NFL career could be nearing its inevitable end.

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3. Mark Sanchez, QB

When Mark Sanchez was originally signed earlier this offseason, it seemed like a decent move for Chicago. Even after the addition of Mike Glennon, they were rather thin at quarterback. If it was experienced depth they were looking for, they found it with Sanchez.

Now that first-round pick Mitchell Trubisky is in the mix, though, I don't see the journeyman sticking around. That's not to say he isn't capable of holding down a No. 3 job in the NFL. At this point, it just doesn't seem like a necessity for the Bears, especially with the younger, cheaper Connor Shaw also on the roster.

Realistically, Sanchez has gotten to the point in his NFL career where he's no longer effective. In two games for the Dallas Cowboys last year, he completed only 55.6 percent of his passes for 93 yards and two interceptions. He also took three sacks behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. It's unfortunate, but his already-questionable skills have seen a steep decline in recent years.

Cutting him loose would create $1 million in dead cap, which isn't ideal. Despite that, Sanchez really isn't worth the roster spot at this point in time. The Bears would be better off using it on a younger player with far more upside than to keep Sanchez around to hold a clipboard.

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2. Ka'Deem Carey, RB

When he entered the league in 2014, I had high expectations for Ka'Deem Carey. The Arizona alum had put together a sensational college career, and appeared to have the physical traits that made up (at least) a solid starter at the next level.

However, after three seasons in Chicago, it's starting to look like that wasn't the case. Although he showed small spurts of promise early during his days with the Bears, he's since become an afterthought in the ground game. He was eclipsed by Jeremy Langford heading into 2016, and then watched Jordan Howard steal the show during the regular season.

Now, he could find himself on the outside looking in during 2017 training camp. Howard and Langford are still atop the depth chart. The Bears also added two other runners to the mix in veteran Benny Cunningham and rookie Tarik Cohen. Both offer more upside as pass-friendly, change-of-pace backs, and Carey isn't going to supplant Langford as the primary backup.

That means Carey's time in Chicago is running out. He got some chances to make an impact, but never quite capitalized. Now, he should soon find himself looking for work elsewhere after three lackluster seasons with the Bears.

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1. Kyle Fuller, CB

When the Bears spent their 2014 first-round pick on Kyle Fuller, it seemed like an excellent addition. The Virginia Tech product showed signs of being a lockdown cornerback, with impressive physicality and instincts in coverage.

Although his first couple of seasons in the NFL had their ups and downs, the promise was still there for Fuller. Injuries and inconsistency hindered his progress, but there was no denying the upside was there. And then 2016 rolled around, and things quickly went downhill for the young cover man.

Fuller ended up missing the entire 2016 campaign after undergoing a minor knee scope. Towards the end of the year, it was believed he'd make his return, but apparently didn't show the desire to get back on the field. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio even went as far as insinuating that Fuller wasn't doing his part to make his triumphant return (via Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs).

Despite the aforementioned issues, Fuller will be given every opportunity to win a job this offseason. Unfortunately, I don't believe that's going to happen. He already appears checked out of Chicago, and is just waiting for that inevitable call to the coach's office.

It was a good run for Fuller, and maybe a change of scenery will help. Based on what we've seen in the last year, though, I wouldn't get my hopes up for the young cornerback staying in the Windy City for much longer.