Chicago Bears: Five players primed to break out in 2019

Roquan Smith was the final high draft pick of the Chicago Bears’ rebuilding era and is one of the most valuable ones as well.

The rookie linebacker held out of training camp last summer due to contract disputes, something that certainly slowed down his first-year production. However, Roquan Smith made good use of his rookie season, recording 5 sacks, an interception, and over 120 tackles. He was more than ready to be thrown into a major role on a championship-caliber team and was a fringe-Pro-Bowl player in that role.

He excelled particularly in coverage and stood out in that area late in the season (his sole interception and three of his five passes deflected came in December), as well as in Chicago’s playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles

This year, expect Smith to take the next step and become a Prow-Bowler. His all-around play has established him as one of the league’s top inside linebackers. At only twenty-two years of age, Smith’s ceiling appears to be unbelievably high, giving rise to the possibility that he could become the top player at his position someday. Smith’s health was also a good sign in 2018, as he did not miss any time due to injury.

Keeping in mind that this summer was Smith’s first NFL training camp, expect him to make a massive jump under new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. His sack totals could rise as high eight, and his interception mark could be upwards of three. Also, look for his tackles total to stay around the same number, as he was already one of the top tacklers in the NFL. Roquan Smith will without a doubt be a Pro-Bowl linebacker in 2019 and will begin to establish himself as one of professional football’s top defenders.