Biggest takeaways from the first Bears depth chart

After a long offseason, we are now only three days away from the return of Chicago Bears football. As the preseason kicks off, the process of trimming the 90-man roster down to 53 begins. An early depth chart can give indication as to where each player stands.

The Bears released their first depth chart of the new season today. Although some people may want to freak out about a certain player being too low or too high on the depth chart, it's best to keep in mind that these charts mean very little at this stage. Things will change between now and the end of the preseason; that's a guarantee.

Nonetheless, it's fun to take a look at where your favorite player ranks in the depth chart. It can be viewed below:

There are some tidbits on here that aren’t surprising. For example, it was well known that Mitch Trubisky was going to be the third string quarterback, even though he likely won’t be to start the regular season. However, there are some things on the chart that are a bit surprising.

Just another reminder: do NOT take this depth chart as gospel. Things can and will change.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest takeaways from the first depth chart of the year.

Lamarr Houston: third stringer

Just a few years ago, Lamarr Houston was signed to a five-year, $35 million deal. The hopes were for him to become a centerpiece of a rebuilding Bears franchise. Fast forward four years, though, and he now appears on the depth chart as a third-stringer.

Granted, part of this is due to Houston's recent ACL injury. As I will discuss again soon, John Fox appears to be pushing some of the players who have suffered recent injuries. By placing them further down the depth chart, he may be lighting a fire under Houston so that he works his way back up. Lest we forget, he was a starter this time last year. Anything can change.

Newbies starting at cornerback

The Bears could’ve gone with several combinations at the starting cornerback spot, but ultimately they went with the most predictable one: Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper.

Placing the free-agent signings at first string makes the most sense. Kyle Fuller is still a mystery after his knee injury, and Cre'Von LeBlanc and Bryce Callahan are better fits at nickelback. Amukamara and Cooper were two of the team's biggest signings, and their spot on the depth chart confirms that they were signed for good reason.

Eddie Jackson lower than expected

Throughout the offseason, there has been a narrative that Eddie Jackson will take Adrian Amos' spot in the starting lineup. It may surprise some people, then, to find that Jackson is a fourth-stringer in this depth chart.

As is the case with Lamarr Houston, Jackson is coming off of a serious injury. If anything, placing him at fourth string is meant to make him earn a spot higher on the chart.

Dion Sims in the starting lineup

Dion Sims worked with the first team at the Family Fun Fest at Soldier Field this weekend, which is reflective of his spot on this depth chart.

Sims is more of a Y tight end, which means that he will be on the field more in single tight end formations. This makes sense, since he’s a better blocker than Zach Miller. Even though the free agent addition is arguably the worst receiver of Miller and rookie Adam Shaheen, he’s the best fit in the Bears’ starting lineup.

Mitch Unrein surprisingly stays on at starter

Most Bears fans have assumed for most of this offseason that Jaye Howard will start for the team at defensive end alongside Akiem Hicks. However, it's Mitch Unrein who appears in the starting lineup on this depth chart.

This doesn’t guarantee him a spot in the starting lineup on Week 1 (or even a spot on the roster), but he does have the most experience in the Bears’ system out of the other defensive ends. Don't expect Unrein to keep that starting spot, though.