Chicago Bears: Way-too-early prediction of 2021 Week 1 defensive starters

These inside linebackers are most likely to start Week 1 for the Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have a young, budding star on their hands in Roquan Smith. Smith was selected eighth overall in 2018. He was a top linebacker prospect coming out of Georgia — a college program Ryan Pace seems to enjoy. There was very little change to the inside linebacking group from 2020 though.

Starting Inside Linebackers: Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan

The same two starters in 2020 will be back again in 2021. Smith is coming off a career year. Although, he was slighted by not being selected to the Pro Bowl or as a First-Team All-Pro. Smith finished the season with 139 combined tackles (98 solos), four sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and tied for second in the league with18 tackles for loss.

Danny Trevathan will start next to him again. Hopefully, Trevathan can start out stronger this season than he did last season. It seems as though Trevathan was not in game shape to start the year and it took him quite a few games to find his footing. He ended the season with 113 combined tackles (67 solos), one sack, a forced fumble and three tackles for loss.

Behind these two, will be Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Josh Woods and the return of Christian Jones.