Champ Kelly Suggests Bears May Be Active Tweaking Roster This August

Champ Kelly is one of the unsung heroes of the Chicago Bears' personnel department. He came over in 2015 at the behest of GM Ryan Pace and became Assistant Director of Player Personnel. His work certainly hasn't gone unnoticed as multiple teams have interviewed him for potential GM jobs in the past two years. Thus far it hasn't happened, which is good news for the Bears as they get to keep him around. Kelly is primarily a pro scout. This means he tends to focus on veteran additions for this roster, be they free agents or trade acquisitions. To that end he's assisted in some really solid moves over the years. Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, Prince Amukamara, Khalil Mack, and Tashaun Gipson are just a few examples. Yet like any scout, Kelly revels the most in the understated part of his job.

Finding those hidden gems nobody else wanted.

The Bears have had plenty of examples in the past few years. Nicholas Williams, Kevin Pierre-Louis, and Mario Edwards Jr. stood out the most. Guys who made significant contributions despite nobody really knowing who they were prior to their arrival in Chicago. These can often be the moves that go a long way towards making a team successful. Star power is vital but so is depth. That is where Kelly and his fellow scouts know they must shine. While appearing at the 4th annual NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit, the personnel director spoke for 30 minutes on the nature of pro scouting. He separated it into five sections. At #1 was probably something fans may not have predicted. Something Kelly believes is arguably the most critical time of year for somebody in his position. That of preseason scouting.

Kelly described preseason scouting—the evaluation of players throughout the NFL who could become available following the league's mandatory 53-man roster cutdown—as "one of the most vital times of the season for a pro scout." "I have this shirt that says, 'Grind in the dark so that you can shine in the light,' and preseason scouting kind of signifies that particular grind," Kelly said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbXhhiiShYY&ab_channel=ChicagoBears

Champ Kelly sounds like somebody with expectations

Remember that the NFL canceled the preseason last year due to COVID-19. While an understandable precaution, it robbed the Bears of a major opportunity to further evaluate players from other teams. This is why there were almost no notable additions to the roster last August or in early September. Right around the time the preseason would've normally concluded. The lack of data forced the team to stick closer to the players they already know. Champ Kelly sounds anxious to change that this year. The preseason will return just over a month from now with a three-game slate. That provides ample opportunities to see players in action. The Bears have never been shy about tweaking their roster even right up until the beginning of the season. Sometimes that is signing free agents and other times claiming guys off waivers.

Will that trend continue?

Fans will find out around the end of August when the cuts start rolling in. It's a pretty safe bet the Bears will make at least one new addition to their roster. History says it will likely be on the defensive side of the ball. That has been the primary focus this time of year for them. Cre'Von LeBlanc should bring back memories. Harold Jones-Quartay as well. Of course, times change. If they spy some help at wide receiver or tight end, they could just as easily pounce.