Three Bold Predictions for the 2018 Chicago Bears

Roquan Smith with the most Interceptions on the team

Roquan Smith, the next Bears great linebacker is already being penciled in for Defensive Rookie of The Year by some analysts. The main reason for this optimistic anticipation is that he is an instinctual player that is going to find his way to the football.

While it is expected that Smith will lead the team in tackles, he will also lead the team in interceptions. Why is this? Besides Eddie Jackson, the Bears do not really have any natural ballhawks on the roster. No. 1 cornerback, Kyle Fuller, finished last year with two interceptions, one of which was against the Cleveland Browns in week 16 and the other was some sort of Houdini play where he magically stripped the ball out of the hands of San Francisco 49ers’ receiver Louis Murphy.

Prince Amukamara is a sticky corner that rarely allows receivers to breathe when he’s covering them, but he hasn’t had an interception in two seasons.

Roquan Smith’s defensive intellect and ability to dissect the play at an elite level, combined with his speed, will make him a threat to pick the ball off over the middle all season. What makes the particular prediction even bolder is that Smith didn’t record a single interception in his career at Georgia, however, under the tutelage of Vic Fangio and because of his natural athletic ability, Smith will find a way to lead the team in multiple categories, with interceptions be one of them.