Where has the stock moved on the Chicago Bears starting nose tackle
People may be surprised to learn that Eddie Goldman will be 25 years old when he plays for the Chicago Bears next season. A player who has contributed since he was 21, Goldman has been a staple of the roster and now enters year five with the same team.
What has been impressive is that Goldman has improved a bit every season. Early on he was a rotational player. He went from rotational player to starter and from starter to a player who played almost every snap.
However, entering this season, Goldman may see a bit of a drop. It has less to do with him, and more to do with Bilal Nichols. Nichols exploded as a rookie and should play more in year two.
In three defensive line sets, the Bears are set with Goldman, Nichols and Akiem Hicks who is better than both. However, this is a nickel and dime league. Who is going to be off of the field?
Goldman will not be replaced by Nichols. However, the three shuffling will keep all of them at their peak energy and health status. Goldman with five or six fewer snaps may prove to bring out five or six more high energy snaps. That may lead to an extra sack or tackle for loss.
Still, it can be argued that his stock is slightly down thanks to Nichols and potentially playing fewer snaps. Despite the slight drop in playing time, we have a player entering his peak with the potential to turn that into more efficiency. His stock is still up.