Chicago Bears: 5 Players Ready To Take Off in 2018

The Chicago Bears don’t have a lot of believers right now. This shouldn’t be a surprise when a team hasn’t had a winning record since 2012.

In fact, the past three seasons could be argued as their work three-year stretch in franchise history. Only 1972 to 1974 can challenge it. They went 6-10, 3-13 and 5-11 since 2015. It was obvious something needed to change, even as it was clear the team was in full rebuild mode. Head coach John Fox ended up being the one sacrificed, having not won enough games and made too many mistakes to justify keeping.

So where does this leave the team. Fox himself believes the Bears are close. Closer than they’ve been in years. If they finished off the off-season strong, it’s possible they could surprise in the NFC. To do that though they’ll need several of their younger players to step out of supporting roles and into the spotlight. Who can do that? Here are five names that fit the profile.

Mitch Trubisky (QB)

Start with the obvious. Everything done this 2018 off-season was funneled towards one, overarching goal. Build around Mitch Trubisky. It started with Matt Nagy at head coach, a former QB and offensive coordinator trained by one of the best in Andy Reid. He knows what Mitch needs schematically. Ryan Pace knew what he needed in personnel. So far they’ve added Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton to the arsenal. Odds are that’ll get deeper in the draft. Word is Trubisky is working his tail off getting himself ready for this year. All signs point to him breaking out in a big way.

Tarik Cohen (RB)

Care to know what defenses fear most about the Bears? That they’ll find a way to get Tarik Cohen the ball in open space. This was something Dowell Loggains couldn’t do enough last year. Luckily Nagy and more specifically offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich know exactly how to do that. Helfrich was quite the master at finding openings for smaller, faster backs at Oregon. Cohen was a nightmare last year even without ideal scheming. Since he has it this year? Oh dear.

Adam Shaheen (TE)

People say Trubisky should be happy Nagy is the head coach, but in truth one man who should be just as thrilled is Adam Shaheen. Few offensive coordinators in the NFL loved to utilize the tight end position more than him the past two years. Just ask Travis Kelce who went over 1,000 yards in 2016 and 2017 for the Kansas City Chiefs. Shaheen began to emerge late last season with a couple of strong games against Detroit and Cincinnati. Now he’s in an offense that knows how to use him.

Nick Kwiatkoski (ILB)

Injuries hampered him at times last season but Kwiatkoski continued to show why he has the chops to start in the NFL. In just 11 games he managed 45 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. He’s demonstrated instinct and toughness whenever he’s on the field. Now with both Jerrell Freeman and Christian Jones gone, there is nobody left to obstruct his path to the starting job unless the Bears draft somebody. What can he due full-time?

Next: Chicago Bears 2018 Mock Draft: Answering The Patriots Call

Jonathan Bullard (DE)

Remember him? Most Bears fans haven’t mentioned the name all that much. It’s easy to understand why. The Bears haven’t had a good 3rd round pick since Lance Briggs 15 years ago and Bullard has ridden the bench since he was drafted in 2015. So why the optimism? If for no other reason, he’ll actually get to play. He was stuck behind John Fox favorite Mitch Unrein the past three seasons. Yet in limited duty last year he had 26 tackles, a sack, two pass deflections and a forced fumble. He’s waited his turn. The talent is there. He just needs the chance.