Making a case: Daniel Hardy should make Bears 53-man roster after standout summer
Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington was halfway through a press conference when he got a question about defensive end Daniel Hardy’s production this preseason.
His response was telling. It was crystal clear that Washington has been wowed by the work the Montana State alum has done this summer.
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“It has really stood out as far as what we’re asking that position to do, especially from a rush standpoint,” Washington said last week. “He’s been extremely active. The energy has been high. He’s gotten quality wins in critical situations, and his effort has been phenomenal. Everything we start from an evaluation standpoint starts with hustle. And I don’t know anybody that has stood out as much as he has.”
See? Told you Washington really likes this guy.
In theory, that gives Hardy a boost securing a roster spot. He has put his best foot forward this summer and should slot into the regular-season depth chart even after the Bears added Darrell Taylor to the mix.
Montez Sweat, DeMarcus Walker and Taylor are locks at end. Fifth-round rookie Austin Booker has been impressive and should be in the rotation. If we’re using traditional roster math, that might leave one spot left. Maybe.
Hardy will be in competition for it with Dominique Robinson. Jacob Martin is also under consideration, but his experience might be negated by the fact he has been hurt most of camp. Or it may secure a spot. It’s uncertain what the Bears will do with the back end of this position group.
Let’s look a bit closer at Hardy’s preseason work for clues on whether he has a real shot. He has 13 tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for a loss and five quarterback hits over 109 defensive snaps in four games. That’s pretty darn good.
Preseason performance isn’t the only factor here, and sometimes it must be evaluated relative to the level of competition. Let’s go back to the Washington quote, though, especially the last part.
“I don’t know anybody that has stood out as much as he has.”
That’s quite a compliment, especially from a defensive coordinator with a history of coaching Hardy’s position group. The Bears were 31st in sacks last season, a number that must and should go up with the depth and talent upgrades from front to back. Hardy could help in that regard as a depth piece with a high motor.
There’s also a possibility the Bears pick up someone who is currently on another roster, but Hardy deserves a shot to contribute early and earn a secure roster spot with his regular-season play. He and Booker could be developed while contributing, in the hope that they could become more significant role players down the line.