Chicago Bears: 10 bold predictions following Khalil Mack trade
By Ryan Heckman
Bears’ pass defense finishes top-5
In 2017, the Bears’ defense finished as the no. 10 overall ranked unit in football.
Cornerback Kyle Fuller finally busted loose and showed what the Bears saw in him, making him a high first-round pick a few years back. This was a huge reason why they took a step forward. Pairing Fuller with Prince Amukamara, a guy who simply does his job, made the secondary even stronger.
That secondary already featured an ascending safety in Amos, and it added a rookie fourth-round pick in Eddie Jackson who flashed in his first season.
The Bears may end up having the best linebacking core in all of the NFL in 2018, with Floyd, Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith and Mack.
The Bears have acquired one of the top players in the NFL in Khalil Mack. Here's @PFF_Sam's take on the move:https://t.co/JMKKBm0U4t pic.twitter.com/ZOGhAaWI8Y
— PFF (@PFF) September 2, 2018
Combine that with Hicks up front coming off the edge, an underrated nose tackle in Eddie Goldman and a mix of Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris off the other side, and you’ve got what looks like a top-5 defense in the NFL.
The Bears are stout at all three levels of their defense, and all it took was one player to put them over the top. Mack’s presence will make everyone’s job easier. He makes it easier on the line, easier on his fellow linebackers and easier on the secondary. His presence alone will allow the 10 other guys on the field to make even more plays.
The Bears will finish 2018 as a top-5 defense. Write it down.