What is the best possible outcome for Jonathan Banks and what is his worst scenario?
As we get ready for the 2017 Bears season, it is a good time to look at the ceiling and floor of every player currently on the Bears roster. Of course, career ending injury is the absolute floor, but we will try to keep it to an on the field scenario. Also, this is the most reasonable ceiling to be set, Mitchell Trubisky is not going to be Super Bowl MVP, MVP and Rookie of the Year this season. With that all said, this edition will look at cornerback Jonathan Banks.
Best Case:
The team shows immediate dissatisfaction with Kyle Fuller, and it is apparent the coaching staff is ready to move on very early into training camp. An offseason trade opens up another spot for a cornerback. Banks played in the slot and on the outside in the preseason, and fared well, with two preseason interceptions. Banks goes head to head with Bryce Callahan for the last roster spot and edges him out. By the end of the season, Banks is seeing starting time in the slot. He fared well in his limited and finished the year with a week 17 interception that leaves a good taste in Bears fans mouths. The Bears end up giving him another one-year minimum deal in the offseason to come back and compete for the starting slot job again.
Next: Best Case, Worst Case: Sam Acho
Worst Case:
Banks was brought in due to the depletion of the secondary last season. The team added some more depth and help in the secondary this offseason, and the odds are stacked against Banks when he gets to training camp. Fuller stays completely healthy in training camp and looks impressive on the field. Prince Amukamara, Crevon LeBlanc, Bryce Callahan and Marcus Cooper all prove to be more valuable assets in the preseason. With Sherrick McMannis being a better special teams asset, he struggles to find any reason to take meaningful practice reps. Banks plays a bit in the first preseason but does not stand out on tape. By the third preseason, he plays just a few snaps in the fourth quarter and the writing was on the wall. Banks gets cut before the season starts, and catches on with another team by the end of the season. They let him walk after the season and he waits deep into the summer to find a camp job.