Chicago Bears: 5 optimistic predictions for the 2020 season
By Usayd Koshul
4. Roquan Smith has an All-Pro season
It’s hard to pick anyone on the Bears defense to breakout in 2020, mainly because the unit is so loaded with talent. However, Roquan Smith had a solid rookie season that saw him lead the team in tackles. While he had an up-and-down 2019 sophomore campaign which ended due to an injury, he’s set to rebound in 2020.
Smith has always drawn comparisons to Buffalo Bills linebacker, Tremaine Edmunds, who was selected in the first-round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the same year Smith was drafted. So far, the debate about who’s become the better NFL player seems to favor Edmunds.
Smith has a prime opportunity to shift the narrative. Heading into year three, his second under defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, Smith has 26 starts under his belt. While he’s yet to start all 16 games in a season, if he’s really improved that way coaches said he did, he’ll breakout.
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Between his first two seasons, Smith has a total of 222 tackles, seven sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hits. It’s worth noting that he played in four fewer games in 2019 but with a full season in 2020, he can easily have a career year and become one of the NFL’s best linebackers.