Which Bears rookie will have the biggest year one impact?
A lot of the Bears draft feature down the road players, which Bears rookie will make the biggest impact this year?
This is usually an easy answer, as most teams expect an impact from their first-year player. However, in drafting Mitchell Trubisky and signing Mike Glennon, the signs point to Trubisky having no impact and learning from the bench. So, which of their other draft picks will make more of an impact that Trubisky?
Adam Shaheen still has a lot to learn. He will certainly be slotted behind Zach Miller on the depth chart to start the season. Miller has a foot injury, but as of day one, it is his position. The Bears also just signed Dion Sims, who is a much better blocker than Shaheen is at the moment. Most tight ends do not make a major impact as a rookie as it is, and Shaheen is likely on a similar trajectory. He may be seeing more snaps than Trubisky, but he may not be a big time contributor year one.
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Jordan Morgan, the fifth round pick is likely not the right choice either. He could make the roster as a backup guard, but he likely would not be the third guard if an injury were to come.
This leaves Eddie Jackson and Tarik Cohen. Cohen has a chance to make an impact on offense and on special teams. He has strong balance and vision and is called the human joystick for a reason. However, he sits behind Jordan Howard, and while he may make an impact as a kick returner or a third down change of pace back, he has to beat out Benny Cunningham for a secondary role.
Jackson is currently injured, but his position definitely would be easier to take over as a full-time starter. Jackson is a safety who is strong at playing the ball and that is really what the Bears secondary is missing. If he can get healthy by camp, he can be a key contributor and carve out a role and a spot in the Bears defense moving forward. Cohen and Jackson are the two best bets to make a year one impact, and in a perfect world, it is Jackson shining the most of the class this season. So what do you think? Who will be the biggest impact rookie of the class?