Former Bears general manager Phil Emery’s current whereabouts are unknown, but his fingerprints are all over the roster.
Fifteen of Emery’s 20 draft selections remain with the Bears.
Some have a place on GM Ryan Pace and coach John Fox’s team. Others could be cut on Friday.
2012
LB Shea McClellin
1st round, No. 19
Roster status: Starter.
Emery has been ridiculed repeatedly for his pick of McClellin, who was his first selection. But it’s starting to look like Emery just had the wrong coaches and scheme for McClellin.
McClellin always has been a linebacker. Emery saw that potential, but the previous two coaching staffs used him otherwise. McClellin’s two years spent as an undersized 4-3 end were a waste.
His ascent from bust to starting signal-caller for coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense is the story from training camp. He may not be successful, but, at the very least, he’s in a better position to succeed.
WR Alshon Jeffery
2nd round, No. 45
Roster status: Starter.
This has turned out to be a great pick by Emery, considering there were six receivers taken before him, and Jeffery has been better than all of them. The only recurring problem is his health.
Jeffery still needs to prove that he can produce without Brandon Marshall.
He seemed to be on that path until a calf strain sidelined him for weeks.
This is a contract year for Jeffery, and it figures to be a big one if he returns to the field.
“There are times where he looks unstoppable,” offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. “We have to see how far we can take him.”
2013
OL Kyle Long
1st round, No. 20
Roster status: Starter.
Long was viewed as a risk, but he has turned out to be Emery’s best pick by far. A two-time Pro Bowl guard, Long isn’t just the team’s best offensive lineman; he’s the best overall player.
A position change seems to be in Long’s future. He has the talent to handle tackle and could find himself the starter on the right side.
“I’d like to help the team wherever that is,” Long said. “I’m really sincere when I say that. If they ask me to play receiver, I’d be out there running routes now.”
LB Jon Bostic
2nd round, No. 50
Roster status: On the bubble.
This selection looks bad now, and Bostic might not be healthy enough to change that.
He has looked nothing like the linebacker who flashed potential in his first preseason appearance against the Panthers or in his 17 career starts.
McClellin and Christian Jones have been consistently better than Bostic since the offseason program.
OL Jordan Mills
5th round, No. 163
Roster status: On the bubble.
Getting 29 starts from Mills, including 16 his rookie season, looked good for Emery.
But Mills’ play has fluctuated so much that he was benched in favor of Charles Leno Jr. this preseason.
Foot surgery after the 2013 season didn’t help Mills. It made last year even more problematic. But Mills’ preseason and camp haven’t been overly impressive as mental errors and pre-snap penalties persist.
DL Cornelius Washington
6th round, No. 188
Roster status: Reserve.
Washington was drafted for his potential. He just needed a position and the work. He might have that now.
Washington bulked up to play end in the Bears’ 3-4 defense — a completely new position for him. He’s now 6-4 and 290 pounds.
Attrition and injuries have helped his cause.
WR Marquess Wilson,
7th round, No. 236
Roster status: Starter (by default).
Emery overlooked off-the-field concerns and saw potential. And now Wilson is the starter because 2015 first-round pick Kevin White had shin surgery.
Wilson always has shown flashes, but the Bears are looking for consistency. They need him to be a reliable target for Jay Cutler.
2014
CB Kyle Fuller
1st round, No. 14
Roster status: Starter.
Like Emery, Fox’s and Fangio’s former teams also had high grades for Fuller coming out of Virginia Tech. Fox and Fangio heaped praise his way.
“We expect him to be a good corner in this league,” Fangio said.
Fuller hasn’t met those expectations this preseason. He has been up and down since camp opened.
DL Ego Ferguson
2nd round, No. 51
Roster status: Starter.
Unlike Fuller, Fox didn’t have that high of a grade on Ferguson, who was viewed as 4-3 nose tackle by Emery. That hasn’t prevented Ferguson from winning Fangio over. Ferguson dropped from 315 pounds to 295 for a move to 3-4 end and said he feels faster and more explosive.
Ferguson said Fangio’s 3-4 defense has been brand new for him, but he apparently has found a home at right end. He has played primarily with the starters, where he should remain with Jeremiah Ratliff suspended.
DL Will Sutton
3rd round, No. 82
Roster status: Reserve.
With his speed and size, Sutton was considered a prototypical three-technique for the Bears’ old 4-3 defense. He was considered a bad fit for Fangio’s scheme.
But he has proved plenty of folks wrong.
Sutton has played well at end and nose this preseason. His speed still is valuable, but his strength also has stood out. He has a place on this team.
RB Ka’Deem Carey
4th round, No. 117
Roster status: On the bubble.
Pace’s signing of Jacquizz Rodgers and his selection of Jeremy Langford in the fourth round didn’t bode well for Carey, who was immediately bumped to No. 4 on the depth chart.
Carey has played well at times in camp and this preseason, and it’s unfortunate that he never got a chance under former coach Marc Trestman. The loss of Senorise Perry might help Carey’s cause, but, unlike Perry, he has not proved that he can handle roles on special teams.
S Brock Vereen
4th round, No. 131
Roster status: Reserve.
Fangio said he thought highly of Vereen when he was coming out of Minnesota and seemed intent on giving him a chance to start.
Vereen, who started five games last year, just didn’t perform against the Dolphins. Rookie Adrian Amos is penciled in next to veteran Antrel Rolle.
Vereen’s roster spot was considered in jeopardy at one point, but Ryan Mundy going on injured reserve helped his cause. Vereen is the No. 1 backup at safety.
QB David Fales
6th round, No. 183
Roster status: On the bubble.
Emery valued Fales enough last season to promote him to the 53-man roster to prevent the Patriots from signing him off the practice squad. This staff might have let him go.
The Bears claimed Zac Dysert, a favorite of Gase’s from Denver, off waivers for a reason. Fales missed most of camp because of an illness.
P Pat O’Donnell
6th round, No. 191
Roster status: Starter.
The biggest difference for O’Donnell, who didn’t have competition in camp, is that this coaching staff might let him kick away more. Last year, the Bears wanted more directional punts.
OL Charles Leno Jr.
7th round, No. 246
Roster status: Reserve.
Leno was considered a developmental player under Emery, and current offensive line coach Dave Magazu hoped enough progress was made to make him a starter at right tackle.
Leno, in turn, struggled with the starters after replacing Mills, but he still has a place on the Bears.
