Chicago Bears: 5 Cut candidates sitting on roster bubble

3. Barkevious Mingo, Linebacker

The Chicago Bears, under Pace, have a spotty history of drafting in the first round. Roquan Smith is probably his best pick, but he has Kevin White, Leonard Floyd, and a struggling Trubisky on his resume.

What Pace has done, though, is try to use other teams’ failed first-round picks and try to turn them around. In addition to Burns, he signed Germain Ifedi and Barkevious Mingo.

Mingo was the Cleveland Browns’ first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2013 draft. After three spotty seasons in Cleveland, he spent each of the next four seasons playing for four different teams (New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, and the Houston Texans). Chicago makes it five teams in five seasons.

With the elite linebackers on the roster, Mingo isn’t expected to play a large number of snaps. It’ll be good to have someone of his abilities in a backup role. If he plays well, it’ll also be nice to have him step in and start in a pinch.

Playing on one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL should help Mingo. He’ll be surrounded by great talent and that should raise his play.

After playing for 19 percent of the teams in the league, Mingo has to show something. This is probably his last shot to stay in the league. This defense is set up for him to play well. If he does, he’ll get another multi-year contract, maybe even with the Bears. If he doesn’t then we’ve likely seen the last of him in the NFL.