Who are the top 15 players on the Chicago Bears roster?
As the offseason has gone along, we have highlighted the entire Chicago Bears roster by going through the top 90 players. Now, we have made it to the top 15.
Unless the Bears make a move like Khalil Mack last season, these will be the most influential 15 players on the roster. This list will focus solely on their value through 2019.
It will look at their talent level, their potential to impact the roster and their value over other players on the roster. With that in mind, who are the top 15 players heading into camp for the Bears?
15. James Daniels
Last year Tarik Cohen kicked off the top 15. As Tarik Cohen slides back a bit. the value of James Daniels rises over him. This speaks more to Daniels than it does of Cohen. Last season, Daniels was in a camp competition and did not even start the regular season. However, we knew better and put him in the top 20.
That is because with the injury history of Kyle Long, the progression of Daniels was crucial. Cody Whitehair cannot carry an interior unit. Daniels not only progressed as the year went on, but he gave the Bears confidence to put more on his plate.
The team now has moved him to center. This is key because he now has to help set the offensive line and snap the ball. He likely is going to improve his ranking if he can take the upgrade in stride.
Tarik Cohen needs a healthy Daniels to succeed, and while the Bears added skill players to take away from Cohen, they added to Daniels plate. It is only natural that he pass him and finish off the top 16.
14. Eddie Goldman
Last Year: 9
Last year Goldman cracked the top ten. His fall may have less to do with him and more to do with the talent around him. At his position, there may not be a better nose tackle in the NFL. He is still in his prime, he is young and the Bears in a great spot moving forward with him.
With that said, he is somewhat limited in his role, although his value as a nose tackle increases due to his rare pass-rushing ability for the spot. Still, Goldman is mainly a plugger to defend the run.
While other players may have shined in bigger roles, the biggest rise that decreases his value is Bilal Nichols. Nichols excelled as a rookie and moved into the third defensive lineman spot.
As a rookie and in a limited role he was able to tie Goldman in sacks with three a piece. Nichols is going to see a bigger role, and may see more snaps next to Akiem Hicks in the nickel.
The limited role will keep Goldman fresh and make him even better on the field. However, there is enough to where he goes from a top ten value to top 15 on an improved roster.
13. Prince Amukamara
Prince Amukamara sits in a similar spot to where he was last season. In 2017, teams were testing Kyle Fuller fresh off of an injury, and Fuller rose to the occasion, earning a contract along the way. In 2018, it was Fuller who earned the reputation. However, like Fuller, it was Amukamara living up to the billing.
Fortunately for the Bears, Amukamara is not due an extension. In fact, 2019 will do more for his next contract than any of the past two seasons. Amukamara will be signed through 2021. However, in 2020 the team can save $8 million by letting him go.
Amukamara will be 31 by then, and age 30 is typically a tipping point in today’s NFL. The Bears are grateful for the play of Amukamara but have to be cautious moving forward.
The team still needs Amukamara as he is one of the top 15 players on the roster, easily. However, Kevin Toliver is learning and growing into a solid player himself. If he is needed in year two, he could step in by year three. Keep an eye on this situation.
12. Kyle Long
Last Year: 11
Kyle Long is a tough player to rank. On the field, the difference in run offense was night and day with Long on and off of the field. The team could run efficiently with him and they were well below average when he went out of the lineup.
With that in mind, his value feels like it should be top ten. However, the question with Long is much less about talent and impact. His question comes in availability.
Long has missed at least eight games in each of the past three seasons. Expecting a full year out of him at this point appears to be asking far too much of Long. However, the Bears still rely on him.
They did not do much to add depth to the group and lost Eric Kush and Bryan Witzmann. They are walking a fine line between relying on Long and being doomed because of Long.
How many games Long can get through will determine his true value, but the Bears truly will take . as many games as they can possibly get.
11. Leonard Floyd
Last Year: 17
Similarly to Kyle Long, the Chicago Bears absolutely need Leonard Floyd next season. However, just like Long we truly have no idea what we will get.
It has been health for Long, and it can be argued that staying healthy has been a concern for Floyd as well. In year two it was a PCL injury and last year he broke his hand and had to play half of the year with a cast.
So, now he enters year four with fewer excuses and a huge role on the roster across from Khalil Mack. On the one hand, he has less responsibility than last year at this time, when Mack was not on the roster yet.
On the other, the Bears have almost no depth that the position. Floyd still has to carry serious weight. Floyd is a situation for his best season and is in great position to take advantage. This puts him right outside the top 10.