Chicago Bears: 5 post-NFL Draft roster questions

Who emerges opposite of Akiem Hicks at defensive end?

The Bears somewhat addressed their need at defensive end in the draft, but there is no clear answer to the above question. Obviously, Akiem Hicks is the no-brainer on one side. But, opposite of him, who will emerge?

Currently, there are three guys who will battle it out. Jonathan Bullard, Roy Robertson-Harris and rookie Bilal Nichols will be the three to watch, here. Nichols, interestingly enough, is going to learn both the five-tech and nose tackle position. Nagy said he likes the versatility that Nichols presents, so maybe the rookie doesn’t end up starting but still sees the field quite often.

Both Bullard and Robertson-Harris have been underwhelming overall, with the latter not necessarily seeing a full chance to explode onto the scene. A former tight end, Robertson-Harris has the physical frame and tools to be a very solid end in this league. But, will he finally take that opportunity and run with it?

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Bullard was a guy coming out of Florida that many were excited about. But, he hasn’t shown that he is a surefire starter just yet. What could end up happening here, honestly, is a healthy mixture of all three of these guys. If there is no clear-cut starter who can handle the majority of snaps, it might be smart to get all three of them on the field throughout each game, especially since they’ll likely be fresh.