Chicago Bears: These sophomore players must improve to make playoffs

The Chicago Bears could have a youth turnover impact on special teams

Getting later in the Chicago Bears 2019 draft, players are less likely to have an impact. Duke Shelley and Stephen Denmark are the last remaining players on the Chicago Bears from that draft class.

The Pittsburg Steelers poached Kerrith Whyte during the season when the Steelers sustained lots of injuries at the running back position. The main focus for Shelley and Denmark should be to create a name for themselves as core special team players and use the athletic gifts they have to rid the Chicago Bears of players such as Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson, and Sherrick McManis.

While some of those players have made a name for themselves, it’s up to the younger guys to take the reigns from older veteran players. The younger players could then parlay that into revolving roles that might lead to a staring position.

Not all players become Tashaun Gipson overnight, but he was one that worked his way to a starting role for multiple teams over the last nine years. Not every player can be drafted high, but that should never stop them from having the ultimate goal of starting and becoming a known player in the NFL.

Shelley was an outside corner that transitioned to the slot position and had an excellent training camp during his rookie year. Denmark has all of the athletic tools to become a playmaker at the NFL level. Denmark might be a long shot but could find his way on the field in playing special teams as a gunner like Cordarrelle Patterson. Denmark should also be considered at safety with his size, speed, aggression in a backup role.