Chicago Bears offseason stock watch: Bilal Nichols
What does the Chicago Bears fifth-round pick have in store for year two?
The rookie season of Bilal Nichols was a slam dunk. Nichols fought through a tough group that featured Roy Robertson-Harris and Jon Bullard to get into a rotation that signified starter snaps by the end of his rookie season.
Nichols put up three sacks and made consistent plays against the run. What makes this better is that heading into the offseason of his second year, it is hard to argue that his stock is going anywhere but up.
Entering year two, he is no longer in competition with Bullard or Robertson-Harris. By this point, Bullard is out of the mix while Robertson-Harris is a rotational player who knows his role. Nichols is firmly a starter.
Not only is he firmly a starter, he now enters camp ready to compete again. That is right, he is coming for Eddie Goldman.
Do not get it mistaken, Goldman will start at nose tackle. However, we are moving to a nickel league more and more every year. That means two defensive linemen on most snaps.
The Bears can mix and match and with enough three man lines, both are going to get snaps. However, it is realistic that Nichols can push Goldman for snaps and sacks in 2019.
From a fourth-round pick who was competing with Bullard to a rookie stud who is coming at Eddie Goldman for more chances in the nickel.
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The development and upside that is presented from Bilal Nichols is fascinating and worth watching moving forward. For now, his stock continues to sore.