Chicago Bears: The top 10 most important players of 2021

Most important Chicago Bears of 2021: Teven Jenkins

General manager Ryan Pace made a statement this offseason by cutting ties with both starting tackles from a year ago. He was not going to allow the outside pressure to be an issue for much longer. Charles Leno and Bobby Massie were both far more expensive than they were worth, and both liabilities in their own sense.

Second rounder Teven Jenkins was expensive in his own way, costing the Bears their original second-round pick and even their third rounder this year. But, he was seen as one of the top offensive tackles in the draft and somehow slid past the first round.

Jenkins is a mauler and looks to finish everybody in front of him, and if he is able to come along quickly as a rookie, we will see huge impacts immediately. David Montgomery was lights-out over his last six games of 2020, but with Jenkins replacing Leno, he could be even better in 2021.

Looking at the quarterback situation, it sort of depends upon who is back there for the Bears. But, even if it is Dalton for a period of time, Jenkins’ ability to keep him clean will be all that more important. Dalton isn’t a mobile guy like Fields. He needs to be given some time, and if Jenkins can do that, then Dalton will be better off. Of course, if it’s Fields, then Jenkins giving a mobile quarterback time means something entirely different. Fields can then open up the game even more so with his legs.