Chicago Bears Rookies: The Future Is Bright

By Flo Ottis | Oct 16, 2016

May 25, 2016; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Leonard Floyd (94) during the OTA practice at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Going into Week 6, the Chicago Bears are 1-4 and doomed to miss the playoffs yet again. But somewhere between key players not being able to stay healthy, and Brian Hoyer not seeing Alshon Jeffery in the most crucial of situations, there’s hope. The future is bright with these Bears rookies.

Before I start breaking down this year’s rookie class and give an outlook on what we can expect from them in the next couple of years, let me just say that it’s still far too early to predict what the future holds. Needless to say, that didn’t hold me back from trying it anyway.

Some of my predictions will make me look foolish a few years from now, but I’m positive most of them won’t (also, if I’m right about most of this, I will not hesitate digging out this article and gently throwing it in your face with a determined “I called it.” Being able to quote your own tweets on Twitter is a beautiful thing.). So without further ado, a look at the 2016 Bears rookies and what to expect:

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OLB Leonard Floyd

The Bears’ 1st-round pick is the ultimate boom-or-bust. His speed and athleticism are beyond dispute, and he was arguably the best edge rusher in CFB last year. He’s rangy and looks surprisingly comfortable in coverage. In preseason I occasionally saw him flash his potential with a couple of spin/swim moves and disruptiveness off the edge.

But the big problem with Leonard Floyd remains his lack of bulk. If I didn’t know about his explosiveness as an edge rusher, I wouldn’t want him out there with the big boys just yet. He looks weak, not to say brittle. And maybe he is, considering the fact that he’s dealt with various smaller injuries since arriving in Chicago, and is now dealing with a calf injury that’s forcing him to rest.

I’m not calling Leonard Floyd a bust just yet. The sample size is simply too small. But I do believe trading up for him was kind of rushed.

If he can bulk up, Floyd can be a dominant edge rusher similar to Aldon Smith for years to come. If 240 lbs is his limit, he merely has a career as a situational pass rusher and depth piece ahead of him.

Stats:

@ HOU: 6 tackles, 0.5 sacks

vs PHI: 2 tackles

@ DAL: 5 tackles

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