Chicago Bears: Bryce Callahan can make a major impact in the secondary
Bryce Callahan has an opportunity to make a big impact for the Chicago Bears at a position of need in 2017.
As a whole, the Chicago Bears have an interesting defense that could really grow into an impressive unit in the coming year. In particular, their defensive front seven has a lot of long-term upside. That being said, their secondary leaves plenty to be desired.
The Bears made many significant additions to the secondary this offseason. Free agent signings Quintin Demps, Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara all should make an immediate impact. However, the Bears also have a ton of interesting young players already on the roster. Among them is 25-year-old cornerback Bryce Callahan.
The Bears signed Callahan as an undrafted free agent out of Rice following the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent a lot of his rookie season on the practice squad, appearing in only nine games. However, In those games, Callahan showed some nice ability as a slot cornerback and special teams player.
The talent is there
Callahan took on a larger role with the Bears last season. He played in 11 games for Chicago, including 10 starts at nickel cornerback. He showed great toughness and natural coverage skills in the middle of the field last season and has the quickness to keep up with the traditional slot receivers.
At 5-foot-10, 184 pounds, Callahan is not blessed with great size but he is a talented slot cornerback who has some great upside in the role. With NFL teams lining the wide receivers up all over the field on a consistent basis, having extreme cornerback depth on the inside and outside is important. Slot cornerbacks are looked down at by some, but they are incredibly important. And when it comes down to it, Callahan was one of the best in the business last season.
Among the best at his position
According to Pro Football Focus, Callahan had the second-lowest passer rating allowed by slot cornerbacks last season. He played at a high level out of the slot and the numbers clearly back it up.
Callahan’s upside on the field is easy to see and he is already starting to show it. However, it is not all positive. The major negative in Callahan’s game has been his inability to stay healthy. He always seems to be dealing with some nagging injury and that could really cost him going forward.
The Bears are not exactly loaded at the cornerback position but they do have a lot of interesting options. Callahan figures to battle Cre’Von LeBlanc in training camp to be the Bears’ primary nickel cornerback. While the race will be close between two talented players, Callahan could quickly find himself lost in the shuffle if he continues to struggle with injuries.
However, if he can get on the field and stay healthy, the sky is the limit for this young cornerback.
Next: Ranking the Bears' most important players for 2017
A talented player who could grow into an extremely important part of the Bears’ defense, Bryce Callahan is undoubtedly one of the most interesting players for the Chicago Bears in 2017.