Ben Johnson making Chicago Bears rookies earn it on team's first depth chart

Wide receiver Luther Burden is a third-teamer. Offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo is the No. 2 left tackle. Second-round defensive lineman Shemar Turner? He's a third-stringer. And camp-favorite Kyle Monangai? He's currently the Chicago Bears' fifth-string running back.

Bears fans should love this approach to the team's first unofficial depth chart. Veterans are getting the first crack at proving they deserve to keep their jobs. But that won't last forever, and if the hungry rooks proved during the preseason that they can produce and be trusted, the depth chart will quickly reshuffle.

The one player who's positioning himself to make the biggest jump is Monangai, who was splitting first-team reps during the team's Family Fest practice last weekend. There's absolutely no way he'd log those snaps if he were really a fifth-string RB in the coaches' eyes.

The same goes for Burden, who's been nearly uncoverable during training camp practices. However, he missed almost all of the offseason workout program and the start of camp with a soft-tissue injury. It's put him behind the learning curve in the wide receiver room; he'll close that gap, and he'll jump into the WR3 role soon enough.