NFL teams need to trim their offseason rosters to 53 players by August 29 at 3:00 p.m. (CT), which is three days removed from the Chicago Bears preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills. All players released with less than four accrued seasons in the league will pass through waivers, and the Bears hold the top spot to claim waived players. Vested veterans will not have to pass through waivers and will be immediately allowed to sign where they please.
As they did a year ago, I would expect the Bears to claim a handful of young players and possibly add a veteran or two, so the initial 53-man roster they announce will surely change.