Chicago Bears: Jerrell Freeman graded as the best linebacker in the NFL by PFF in 2016

Chicago Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman was graded as the top player at his position by PFF last season.

An under-the-radar late free agency signing, the Chicago Bears found a real impact talent in linebacker Jerrell Freeman last season. Freeman had to sit out four games in the middle of the 2016 season after testing positive for PEDs. That being said, the Bears’ linebacker really made an impact when he was on the field.

In only 12 games last season, Freeman had 86 total tackles and four passes defended. He is a fierce run defender in the middle of the Bears defense who can mix it up in the middle and play well in space. Freeman is a tough defender who also shows the necessary speed and athleticism to succeed in pass coverage. Simply put, he is an incredible overall linebacker who the Bears are lucky to have.

As great as Freeman was, he was not selected for the Pro Bowl or on any All-Pro teams. His suspension certainly had something to do with his exclusion from those teams but it still seemed odd.

While Freeman did not get the respect from voters last season, Pro Football Focus was certainly kind to his play on the field. In fact, according to their grading system, Jerrell Freeman was the single best linebacker in the NFL during the 2016 season.

Freeman’s 93.8 grade by PFF is incredibly impressive and puts him in the elite category according to their system. Freeman is obviously a big time asset for the Chicago Bears but his impact as a linebacker is difficult to see on paper. However, the folks at PFF certainly see how great of a player he is and they put it to us in an easy to digest number.

If you ask NFL fans who they think the best linebacker in the NFL is, Freeman’s name will probably not ever come up. However, I will side with the folks at PFF. Freeman is an incredible player who clearly makes the Bears defense much better. PFF’s grading system is not perfect but it is a smart and advanced way of looking at the game. Him rating highly is a great indicator of how good of a football player he is.

Next: Predicting Bears' offensive depth chart for 2017

The Chicago Bears have many holes on their roster but Freeman helps make their linebacking corps an obvious strength. Perhaps an even bigger strength than any of us realize.