The Chicago Bears will focus on offense in regards to seeking upgrades in 2020. That is not a shock. When a team fields the 29th ranked offense in football, one has to expect the majority of available resources will be devoted to fixing it. That said, the defense won’t be completely ignored. The team will simply try to get by with bargain options in hopes they can plug holes where needed. One position they figure to do this is cornerback.
Prince Amukamara could be on his way out this offseason. His contract is becoming expensive for the team to keep and he suffered some injury issues towards the end of 2019. If this does happen, it leaves the depth chart behind Kyle Fuller dangerously bare. Buster Skrine is in his 30s now. Kevin Toliver looked decent in limited playing time. Beyond that, it’s a collection of unknows like Duke Shelley and Michael Joseph.
This might explain why the Bears are active on the corner market. They were tagged as having worked out Tre Roberson of the CFL.
This might seem like just standard procedure. However, Roberson is considered one of the most coveted CFL prospects out there. This after securing seven interceptions for Calgary in 2019, the second-most in the league.
Roberson is a fascinating story. He signed a scholarship to play at Indiana but the coach who recruited him was fired before he arrived. He spent three years at the program, constantly battling for the starting job. Finally in 2014, he decided to transfer to Illinois State. There he found a home, throwing 30 touchdowns and running for 11 more in his first season. Roberson finished with a 23-5 record in two years. However, it wasn’t enough to garner much interest in the NFL. Not as a quarterback anyway.
Roberson was forced to make a decision. Try to latch on as a QB or switch positions in hopes he could take advantage of his athleticism. He chose the latter option, becoming a cornerback. After a tryout, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016. Unfortunately, he was trapped on a loaded depth chart and failed to make the team. So after two years, he made his way up to Canada to join the Stampeders. With his help, the team won the Grey Cup championship. A game in which he had an interception.
Roberson is 6’1 with clear athletic ability. His connection at Illinois State makes it an easier sell for the Bears to snag him given his familiarity with the region. Plus they’re closer to his hometown of Indianapolis. On the flip side they get a 27-year old corner who now has two full years of experience under his belt and is ready for the step up to the NFL.
