Tremaine Edmunds, LB
The first half of last year, the Bears defense wasn't exactly up to snuff. We all know about the turnaround that happened over the second half, especially after things got going under Matt Eberflus calling plays.
For that first half, Tremaine Edmunds was especially absent at times. The Bears spent all this money signing Edmunds to a huge free agent contract only to see him fade into the background. Then, as the season went on, Edmunds' play improved quite a bit.
Do we think it's any coincidence that, as Edmunds' play improved, the defense as a whole improved? We saw a rise in takeaways, too, once Edmunds and the defense started playing better collectively.
Now, imagine what would happen if Edmunds and the Bears started out the year in the same manner they ended last season. All of the talk was more about T.J. Edwards than Edmunds, but what happens when people remember just why the Bears paid Edmunds in the first place? Look out.