Chicago Bears edge rusher Leonard Floyd will be an All-Pro in 2017

Clearly ready to take the next step, Chicago Bears edge rusher Leonard Floyd will make an appearance on the All-Pro team in 2017.

In the first defensive play of the Chicago Bears preseason, Leonard Floyd burst off the line of scrimmage, abused Denver Broncos right tackle Menelik Watson with a sharp rip move and sprinted in for a sack of quarterback Trevor Siemian. It was an impressive athletic play and I have a feeling that we will see a lot of it next season.

The Bears traded up two spots to snag Floyd with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He primarily played inside linebacker at the University of Georgia, but always had the frame and athleticism to have exciting upside as an edge rusher.

We saw that exciting upside on display during his rookie season, as Floyd piled up seven sacks in 12 games for the Bears, including 6.5 sacks in a five game stretch in the middle of the season. Make no mistake about it, Floyd has the athleticism and overall pass rush skills to be a star on the outside. Will he take the next step in 2017? I have to say that I like his chances.

Impressive in camp

Floyd not only started his preseason off with a bang, he has been dominating against his teammates during training camp. In his recent mailbag, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune called Floyd the star of Chicago Bears training camp.

"“The Bears had a good number of bright spots in camp during the stay at Olivet Nazarene University and the one player that stood out to me was Leonard Floyd. That’s a good thing when the first-round draft pick from the previous year excels at the start of Year 2, a very good thing that bodes well for a defense desperately in need of a star,” Biggs wrote.“Floyd showed up about 15 pounds heavier than he was last year and he stayed on the field. Remember, Floyd dealt with the flu at the start of camp last summer, he had some heat-related issues and then he banged up his shoulder. The result was he spent a lot of his rookie training camp standing on the sideline.”“Floyd participated in every practice in Bourbonnais and you got a glimpse at his freakish ability in the preseason opener when he came screaming around the left side for a sack. If he can become a consistent and dominant presence, the Bears are really going to have something to build around moving forward.”"

Floyd coming in 15 pounds heavier is a great sign of his ability to compete in 2017. He already had the quickness and speed combination to dominate on the outside, but he was overpowered far too often last season. Getting a little bit thicker and stronger at the point of attack will not only help Floyd in his pass rush, it will help him compete against the run. Run defense was a major issue for Floyd last season.

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Plus, it certainly does not appear that the added weight has slowed Floyd down at all. He showed the same burst and explosion in the preseason opener against the Broncos and I fully expect that to continue going forward.

Floyd is great, but an All-Pro?

We knew when the Bears drafted him that Floyd had special upside. He only proved that with his play last season and appears primed to explode in 2017. Vic Fangio knows how to get the most out of his defensive players and Floyd is arguably his best weapon. Expect Fangio to unleash Floyd in 2017 and for him to unlock his immense potential.

I expect at least 12 sacks from Floyd in 2017, consistent pressure on the quarterback and an improved ability against the run. Floyd is also a strong player in pass coverage when asked to do so. Yes, I think that kind of performance makes him a strong All-Pro candidate.

Last season, Khalil Mack and Vic Beasley were the first-team All-Pro edge rushers, while Jadeveon Clowney, Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon and Brandon Graham took home second-team honors. All six of those players are incredible and well-deserving, but an improved Floyd can undoubtedly crack that team.

Next: What we learned from Bears' first preseason game

Make no mistake about it, Leonard Floyd is an extremely talented player who plays the most premium defensive position on a football field. If he is as improved as it appears, this young Chicago Bears star will be an All-Pro selection.