A few of our guys are running through a pre-training camp roundtable addressing some topics about the Bears.
The Chicago Bears will head into training camp with just about every starting position sorted, but there are a couple up for grabs.
Left tackle Braxton Jones is still rehabbing, but if he’s healthy, he brings plenty of experience to the position. Rookie second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo and second-year pro Kiran Amegadjie have been splitting time at the position all offseason.
The other spot up for grabs is the strongside linebacker position, which was manned by Jack Sanborn last year, but he followed Matt Eberflus to Dallas.
For today’s roundtable topic, we all gave our prediction for who we think will win the Sam linebacker job, and here’s what we had to say.
Gary Baugher Jr.: When we field one… it has to be Ruben Hyppolite, right? His ability to attack downhill and avoid bodies suits him pretty well there. However, Kyler Gordon will see the majority of snaps in lieu of a Sam; he saw 740 snaps last year (69.1% of all defensive snaps in 2024). But I can see Hyppolite playing the Josh Metellus “jack of all trades”/Sam linebacker role pretty nicely.
Johnathan Wood: Amen Ogbongbemiga seems like the most likely option to me, but I won’t really be surprised by anybody here. As long as the starters stay healthy, it’s not a hugely important role – the 3rd LB played around 300 snaps under Dennis Allen in New Orleans. I am very worried about the depth though, as I don’t think any of their SAM options are good. You can get away with that for 300 snaps, but if a starter goes down, they could be in trouble.
Ryan Droste: I gotta think it’s Ruben Hyppolite II. Agree with Jonathan in that injuries to the LB room could be devastating, as the depth just isn’t there. Luckily, Allen’s sub-packages will require fewer snaps out of this position.
TJ Starman: It certainly seems like it’s Ruben Hyppolite’s job as of now. Ryan Poles, Dennis Allen, and Ben Johnson have all given some level of praise for the rookie to this point, and as a 4th round pick, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in that role at all. Coupling that with a lack of, well anything really, from Noah Sewell in his Bears’ tenure could make this a rather uninteresting camp battle.
Dr. Mason West: I think it is Ruben Hyppolite II’s job to lose. Dennis Allen is clearly excited about him and his speed. He has been making plays this offseason.
Bryan Orenchuk: Ruben Hyppolite II. Though I still consider the selection of the former Maryland LB to be a reach, the door is wide open for the speedy backer to start on the strong side this season. I fully expect at least 6 DBs to exceed him in defensive snaps, but Hyppolite has already been turning heads and figures to be a special-teams ace when he isn’t holding down the Sam spot.
Jeff Berckes: Uhhhh…Hunter Hillenmeyer?
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: Hyppolite has received some early hype, but I have a feeling it’ll be the veteran Ogbongbemiga week one. However, Dennis Allen will get the rookie some playing time and by season’s end, he’ll be the starter.
Now it’s your turn. Who will win the Bears’ strongside linebacker job?