The Chicago Bears are in the process of trimming their roster down to 53 players ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, and there are going to be some difficult decisions for general manager Ryan Poles.

The Bears have depth at the wide receiver position for the first time in a long time. None of them are dominant, top-five players at their position, but the potential to be high-end stars is there for a couple of them. Quarterback Caleb Williams has plenty of good players to consider throwing to.

Advertisement

It is all but certain that five of the receivers who showed up to camp earned spots on the team as DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Devin Duvernay seem to be the five locks to make the team.

But are the Bears going to carry six wideouts on the roster? It is possible, at least at first. With that in mind, we’re ranking Chicago’s best options for that WR6 spot ahead of cutdown day:

1. Jahdae Walker

Undrafted rookie Jahdae Walker is an interesting prospect for the Bears. There have been questions about his potential to make the final roster, but those may have been answered. Walker had a great training camp, and his final dress rehearsal, the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, went very well. Not only did he made a great play to get both feet down in bounds to keep the game-winning drive moving, but he also caught the final touchdown that secured the victory for Chicago. If everyone truly had a chance to make the team going into the preseason based on how they played, Walker has to be at the top of this list.

Advertisement

2. Tyler Scott

Tyler Scott has been with the Bears for a few years now. The former fourth-round pick has been a mainstay on the active roster, where he’s played a limited role. But, with a revamped receivers group, he could find himself the odd man out. Scott may earn a spot on the practice squad now, but making the team is not a lock. His veteran status may work in his favor, but he wasn’t noticeable enough in preseason to consider him someone who deserves to make the team with no hesitation.

3. Maurice Alexander

Maurice Alexander is a solid player who had some nice moments in the preseason, but he’s third on this list of receivers fighting for that sixth and final spot. He could also be a practice squad guy if he doesn’t make the team, but his odds for the 53-man roster look bleak. Although he had a couple of flashes in exhibition play, Walker and Scott would likely make the team over him for different reasons.

Advertisement

4. Miles Boykin

Miles Boykin is one of the two guys left who have a very small chance of cracking the team. There is always hope for the practice squad or being picked up by another team, but Boykin is low on Chicago’s list right now.

5. JP Richardson

JP Richardson is unlikely to make the team. Out of everyone, he has a case for being the least impactful WR on the depth chart. While he flashed during the start of training camp, there are other players who have passed him up on the depth chart.

Out of the running: Samori Toure

The Bears released former Green Bay Packers receiver Samori Toure on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears roster cuts: Ranking Chicago’s best options for WR6