Chicago Bears: Top 10 draft picks under Ryan Pace

7. Linebacker Leonard Floyd

If you want to talk about potential, which is a word I have come to hate, look no further than Leonard Floyd. “Potential” is a word that was used to describe a player like Jay Cutler year-in and year-out, remember, and look where he ended up.

I digress.

Floyd certainly has an uncanny ability to rush the passer, but as most Bears fans don’t like to admit, it’s his effort that comes into question sometimes. I am not sure I would quite call it “taking plays off,” but Floyd definitely doesn’t come with the same level of intensity on every single play.

In 2018, his teammate Akiem Hicks thinks Floyd can be a Pro Bowl player — count us here at Da Windy City as supporters of this notion as well. He absolutely has the ability to do so, it’s just a matter of putting it on tape. Remember, Pace traded up to get him, so he’s got a little extra weight on his shoulders in terms of expectations.

In two seasons with the Bears, Floyd has registered 11.5 sacks in 22 games played. He has had a couple of injuries that kept him from playing full seasons thus far, but if he stays healthy in 2018, he has a great shot of destroying his career-high 7.5 sacks from his rookie year.

One thing I will look for this season is for Fangio to send the kid at the quarterback more than ever. He isn’t great in coverage, nor was he coming out of Georgia. If Fangio keeps him where he’s at his best, rushing the passer, then I think this year could be a coming-out-party type of year for Floyd.