Ranking Chicago Bears in 2022 NFC North LB Rooms

2. Minnesota Vikings: Eric Kendricks, Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah, Troy Dye

The Minnesota Vikings have some questions like the Bears, but they bring more depth all the way around. When it comes to Roquan Smith and Eric Kendricks it could be two ships passing in the night. This time two years ago everyone said Kendricks was better. Last year it got closer. Now, most assume, Smith is better.

Kendricks is slowing down and started to miss more time, but will be 30 next year and when he is on, he is still a great linebacker, it is just in comparison to the elite players when he loses a peg or two. Still, Kendricks and Smith are close enough that the depth sways it to the Vikings.

Jordan Hicks has been a reliable linebacker in most of his stops. Last year the Cardinals drafted Zaven Collins to replace Hicks but Hicks competed and kept the rookie on the sidelines.

Asamoah is a player the Bears had eyes on and may have drafted in the third round if things broke differently. Either way, the third-round rookie certainly has more upside than Matt Adams, and if the Bears did draft him in round three, we all would say he is above Adams on the depth chart.

Some fans want Jack Sanborn to be ahead of Adams already and he was a UDFA. Troy Dye was a fourth-round pick in 2020. He has not proven much over his two years but is arguably closer to Matt Adams than Sanborn at this point. Hicks would be ahead of Morrow, Asamoah ahead of Adams, and Dye ahead of Sanborn. This makes the difference between Smith and Kendricks less of a discussion point.