Chicago Bears Training Camp Preview: Inside Linebackers

1. Roster Locks

As of right now, there are two players that are locks to make the Bears roster: Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith, both of whom will be starters in 2019. Smith had a phenomenal rookie season with 121 tackles, five quarterback hits, and five sacks. He’s yet to realize his true potential and will end up making a case for being the best inside linebacker in the NFL in 2019.

Trevathan, on the other hand, is coming off a year which saw him post 102 tackles and two sacks. As he heads into his eighth season, Trevathan will also be the leader of a defense that’s now commanded by Chuck Pagano.

What makes Trevathan’s job so critical is that he’s always been the one guy who’s called plays for the Bears on defense. Now that Pagano is the defensive coordinator, there will be some new terminology that he needs to learn in order to ensure that the defensive succeeds.

One of the biggest things to understand about this duo of Smith and Trevathan is the fact both have the potential to be one of the best inside linebacker duos this season. Last year, Smith missed parts of training camp, meaning he hasn’t yet gotten a chance to experience how preparation for an NFL season really goes.

With Smith flying all over the field and Trevathan being a guy who is an asset in coverage, both starters can do it all. Barring any injuries, Smith and Trevathan should each have big seasons in 2019.