Chicago Bears: Predicting the 2017 53-man roster before training camp
Defensive Line
Starters: Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman and Jaye Howard
Backups: Jonathan Bullard, John Jenkins and Roy Robertson-Harris
Akiem Hicks was an absolute monster for the Chicago Bears on the defensive line last season. Hicks is a massive man with ridiculous natural power, but he also shows nice quickness and pass rush ability. He is arguably the Bears’ best defensive player and a lock to start on the defensive line.
Barring injury, Eddie Goldman will be starting next to Hicks at nose tackle. Goldman has a lot of upside as a run stuffer with some pass rush ability on the inside, but injuries have been a concern. If Goldman can stay healthy, expect him to take a major step forward in 2017. However, that is a major “if”. John Jenkins is there as a solid backup nose tackle if Goldman struggles with injuries.
The third starting defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears is less clear. However, free agent addition Jaye Howard is the most likely candidate. Howard struggled to find a market in free agency, but he is a dominant run defender from the five-tech defensive end position. A front three of Howard, Hicks and Goldman would make the Bears extremely difficult to run on.
If Howard doesn’t end up grabbing that starting spot, second-year player Jonathan Bullard likely make a huge jump from his rookie year. Bullard has an impressive overall skill set, but he struggled with consistency last season. He is a bit of an odd fit for the 3-4 defense, but at worst, Bullard should make an impact as an interior rusher on passing downs.
Roy Robertson-Harris may be the most interesting player on the Bears’ defensive line. He has a ton of pass rush ability on the outside, but the Bears have recently bulked him up to play up front in their 3-4 defense. If Robertson-Harris was able to keep his quickness and athleticism after adding size, the Chicago Bears may have themselves an incredibly valuable pass rusher. He is certainly a player to watch in training camp.
The notable omission here is Mitch Unrein. Unrein has been a solid part-time starter for the Bears over the last two seasons, but there are too many interesting options for him to make the roster. He will likely catch on with another 3-4 team, probably a contender who is looking for some defensive line stability.