Roy Robertson-Harris – Page 8 – Syndication Server

The Bears are a top-five defense in new ranking by The Athletic

The Athletic recently ranked all 32 NFL defenses entering the 2020 NFL season and the Bears landed at No. 5.

While the Chicago Bears defense regressed last season, they were still a top-10 unit in the NFL. Which isn’t bad for a team that lost some significant pieces to injury in defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith.

The good news is that all three of those guys are returning in full health for 2020, and the Bears still have some of the best players at their position in the league in edge rusher Khalil Mack, safety Eddie Jackson and cornerback Kyle Fuller.

While they did lose cornerback Prince Amukamara and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix this offseason, they made some solid additions that should make this defense even better. That starts with pass rusher Robert Quinn, who is coming off a 11.5 sacks with the Dallas Cowboys. Quinn is a clear upgrade over Leonard Floyd, who struggled to sack the quarterback. The Bears also added second-round rookie cornerback Jaylon Johnson and veteran safety Tashaun Gipson in the secondary.

The Athletic recently ranked all 32 NFL defenses entering the 2020 NFL season and the Bears made top five at No. 5 behind the Baltimore Ravens (No. 1), Los Angeles Chargers (No. 2), Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 3) and New Orleans Saints (No. 4).

5. Chicago Bears
Last year: 8th

They have the potential to produce the best pass-rushing defensive line in the league. The combination of Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn on the edge will be as tough to block as any in the NFL. And Akiem Hicks (missed 11 games last season) is one of the league’s most disruptive interior linemen. On the back end, the Bears need second-round pick Jaylon Johnson (or someone else on the roster) to be a competent number two corner opposite Kyle Fuller. They have Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson, and Tashaun Gipson could prove to be an upgrade over Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. A couple things need to fall their way, but this group has a high ceiling.

The only bad news is that the Bears will be without nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who chose to opt out of the 2020 season due to health and safety concerns with COVID-19. Chicago’s defense won’t be the same without Goldman doing the dirty work in the trenches, but that just means they need some younger players to step up in his absence.

Defensive tackle Bilal Nichols and defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris will certainly have an opportunity to do just that, as well as defensive tackle John Jenkins, who will likely serve as Goldman’s replacement at nose tackle.

While the loss of Goldman is brutal, the Bears still have some great players on this defense that should help this unit remain one of the best in the league.

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Which Bears players will step up in Eddie Goldman’s absence?

Our Bears Wire staff shares their thoughts on which player they believe will rise to the occasion in NT Eddie Goldman’s absence in 2020.

The Chicago Bears suffered a brutal blow to their defense when nose tackle Eddie Goldman chose to opt out of the 2020 season due to health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Goldman’s absence will be felt in the middle of that defensive line, especially when it comes to clogging up running lanes and doing the dirty work in the trenches. Which means that the Bears defense is going to need some of those players on the defensive line to step up in Goldman’s absence.

Our Bears Wire staff shares their thoughts on which player they believe will rise to the occasion in Goldman’s absence.

Alyssa: DT Bilal Nichols

While the loss of Eddie Goldman is a devastating one, it does provide an opportunity for someone like defensive tackle Bilal Nichols to step up in his absence, especially given that Nichols is going to see an increased workload. Nichols was already expected to be a big contributor this season. But with Goldman’s absence, it’s more imperative than ever that Nichols go from average to great on this defensive line.

The Bears have one of the best run defenses in the NFL last season, a testament to Goldman’s ability to clog up running lanes. Now, Nichols, a former fifth-round pick out of Delaware, has an opportunity to step up in that same area, something he’s already shown he can do. Losing Goldman is absolutely brutal for this defense. But if it allows Nichols to step up in his third season, there could certainly be a silver lining.

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See where the Bears rank in Touchdown Wire’s pre-training camp power rankings

In TD Wire’s pre-training camp power rankings, the Bears ranked 18th, which is due in large point to the concerns at the QB position.

Touchdown Wire‘s Mark Schofield released his pre-training camp power rankings, where the Chicago Bears dropped one spot and landed at No. 18. Which, considering how most power rankings have gone for Chicago this offseason, could be worse. But then again, the Bears aren’t going to get respect until they earn it on the field.

Schofield discussed the Bears’ moves in the NFL Draft, praising the additions of second-round picks tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Schofield believes that they can both be Week 1 starters for this team. He also noted the addition of fifth-round receiver Darnell Mooney, who generated a ton of buzz.

But the biggest question mark for everyone — be it those in Chicago or from a national landscape — is the Bears’ quarterback situation, where Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles will be competing for the starting job. And they’ll have only training camp reps to do so.

Look, in the end what matters for Chicago is not their 87th tight end or a cornerback they drafted in the second round, but who wins the showdown of showdowns: Trubisky v Foles: The Melee of Mediocrity. Joking aside, if they can just find a quarterback to execute Matt Nagy’s offense and make throws on time and in rhythm, they will be a much-improved team on that side of the ball.

The Bears were one of the teams impacted recently by decisions from players to opt-out of the 2020 season due to concerns over COVID-19. Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, a mainstay up front for Chicago the past few years, decided to forgo playing in the year ahead. He is not a household name but is a factor up front for this defense, which should again be the strength of the organization. This will have an impact in 2020.

The only concern on defense is how the loss of nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who opted out of the 2020 season, will impact the defensive line. There are some guys on the roster in defensive tackle Bilal Nichols and defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris that certainly need to step up. And if nose tackle John Jenkins returns from the reserve/COVID-19 list, he’s the clear in-house favorite to take over for Goldman this season.

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Bears 2020 training camp preview: Defensive line

Let’s take a look at the Bears’ defensive line heading into training camp.

The Chicago Bears are ten days away from reporting to training camp on July 28 and the defensive line is eager to get back on the field. Last year, a couple of injuries plagued the defensive line, especially with Akiem Hicks, but if the Bears can stay healthy in 2020, they have one of the best units in the NFL.

The Bears saw two players leave in free agency that played a productive role. Aaron Lynch returns to his home state to play with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a one-year, $1.1 million deal after playing in 16 games and totaling two sacks. Nick Williams signs with divisional rival Detroit Lions for two years, $10 million after a breakout year with six sacks, nine quarterback hits, five tackle for loss, and 42 total tackles.

Let’s take a look at the defensive line heading into training camp.

Akiem Hicks

Playing in five games last season due to injury, Hicks is hungry to get back on the field. Ever since Hicks joined the Bears in 2016, he has played at an elite level where he has recorded more than seven sacks in each season besides 2019, five force fumbles, four fumble recoveries, seven pass deflections and 173 combined tackles.

The 2018 Pro Bowler is accompanied by Khalil Mack and newly signed Robert Quinn, which can help Hicks get his normal production and more. The 30-year old will be a key piece on the defense in 2020 after missing 11 games last season.

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These 4 Bears players are poised for a breakout season in 2020

Our Bears Wire staff shares their thoughts on which Bears players are poised to have a breakout year in 2020.

The Chicago Bears are coming off a disappointing 2019 season, which included a 8-8 record and third-place finish in the NFC North. There were a number of factors that contributed to the decline, namely on offense.

But Chicago is looking to rebound in 2020, and they’ll need several players to really step it up in order to do that. Not only veterans but some of the young talent that appeared poised to make their mark on the NFL.

Our Bears Wire staff shares their thoughts on which Bears players are poised to have a breakout year in 2020.

Alyssa: WR Anthony Miller

There’s no better time for Anthony Miller to make a statement than in his third season. With the release of veteran wideout Taylor Gabriel, Miller instantly fills that No. 2 role opposite Allen Robinson. While Miller has had his share of injury struggles – he’s coming off a second straight shoulder surgery – there’s every reason to believe that Miller is poised for a breakout year.

After a slow start to his sophomore season — which included a sluggish outing by the offense — when the Bears offense started to heat up, that’s when Miller shined. Case in point, a five-game stretch where he totaled 33 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns in Weeks 11-15. Miller finished the year with 52 receptions for 656 yards and two scores. With an additional year of experience in Matt Nagy’s offense and what’s sure to be better quarterback play — be it from Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles — Miller is in a good place to establish himself as Chicago’s clear-cut No. 2 wideout.

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11 notable Bears who are unrestricted free agents after 2020 and whether they should be re-signed

Let’s take a look at 11 notable unrestricted free agents and whether the Bears should re-sign them, as well as the to-be-determined group.

We’re just a few months from the hopeful start of the 2020 season. But it’s never too early to take a look at what lies ahead in 2021. Particularly on the unrestricted free agent front.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace has some important decisions to make regarding some of his big-name free agents, some that will have to earn that next contract and others that are shoe-ins for another deal. (Looking at you, Allen Robinson.)

Let’s take a look at 11 notable unrestricted free agents and whether the Bears should re-sign them, as well as the to-be-determined group that features a slew of one-year prove-it deals.

*Contract details courtesy of Spotrac

WR Allen Robinson

2020 salary: $14M

Allen Robinson has been the best thing about the Bears offense in his two short seasons in Chicago, and he’s proven to be the No. 1 receiver this team has been looking for. He’s managed to thrive in some pretty average or bad offenses in Chicago — even managing a 1,000-yard season in one of the league’s worst offenses — and it should be a no-brainer for Pace to lock up Robinson long-term.

Verdict: Re-sign

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3 Bears in line for extensions after 2020 season

Bears GM Ryan Pace is in a prime position to hand out some well-deserved extensions. Here are three players that could fit the bill.

While Mitchell Trubisky’s future in a Chicago Bears uniform remains in limbo, there are several players on the roster who are worthy of a contract extension. Unfortunately, none are likely to occur until after the 2020 season due to salary cap restrictions and/or limitations set in the NFL collective bargaining agreement.

Per Spotrac, the Bears have approximately $10 million in available cap space, which will be reserved for signing the draft class and adding one or two more depth pieces. After the upcoming season, the Bears figure to have more financial flexibility, given they are projected to have $185 million on the books.

Add to that that the 2021 salary cap could reportedly increase as high as $240 million, and general manager Ryan Pace is in a prime position to hand out some well-deserved extensions.

Multiple league sources tell @FanSided the NFL salary cap could potentially reach $240 million in 2021.

The 2020 projected cap is $200M and could settle as high as $204M depending on a few factors.

— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) February 28, 2020

Let’s take a look at three players that could be due for an extension following the 2020 season.

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DE Roy Robertson-Harris signs tender, returns to Bears

The Bears returned an essential part of their DL, announcing that DE Roy Robertson-Harris has signed his 2nd-round tender.

The Chicago Bears took care of some internal business just one week ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, announcing they re-signed restricted free agent defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris to a one-year deal.

The Bears placed a second-round tender on Robertson-Harris prior to free agency, which he signed on Wednesday afternoon. The move keeps him in Chicago through the 2020 season and allows the defense to retain one of its important rotational players.

✍️ + 📩 + 📬@BigXander95 is BACK.

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 15, 2020

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2016, Robertson-Harris worked to become an essential piece on the defensive line. He saw the field for the first time in 2017 and has become increasingly involved in the defensive game-plan each year. Last season, the former UTEP standout totaled 30 tackles, two and a half sacks and three pass deflections in 15 games.

Robertson-Harris will become an unrestricted free agent in the spring of 2021.

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Why the Bears aren’t the biggest losers of the NFL offseason

While some believe that the Bears are the offseason’s biggest losers, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Heading into free agency, there were no shortage of issues for general manager Ryan Pace to address. And while Pace made several moves, not all were met with praise.

Bleacher Report posted an article stating that the Bears were the biggest losers of the NFL offseason so far. Which I highly disagree with, but that’s just me.

Timing is of the essence when it comes to NFL free agency and offseason acquisitions. The perception of moves can drastically change based on when something happens.

The Chicago Bears epitomize how poor timing can wreck an offseason and make their moves look far worse in retrospect.

Even without that added caveat, general manager Ryan Pace’s plan looked suspect from the start since he invested heavily in aging veterans.

Let’s recap, shall we?

To kick start the Bears’ offseason, Pace decided to address the tight end position first and signed veteran Jimmy Graham. The Bears are desperate for tight end help with Trey Burton dealing with injuries last season and them not knowing if Burton will be able to stay healthy all year.

With the loss of Leonard Floyd, Pace needed to find a replacement on defense for Floyd. Surprisingly, he went out and signed Robert Quinn to a five-year, $70 million deal. Quinn on one side and Khalil Mack on the opposite side could be a very dangerous combination for the Bears defense.

Quarterback remained a point of contention for the Bears this offseason. Rumors were swirling around social media that the Bears were interested in Teddy Bridgewater and supposedly were close on a deal, but who knows if that was actually true.

Not long after, the Bears ended up trading for Nick Foles. A quarterback that has experience in the playoffs, and a Super Bowl MVP under his belt, could be good for this team and could be helpful for Mitchell Trubisky.

Another major issue this offseason has been the offensive line, which Pace addressed with the signing of Germain Ifedi. Although, only time will tell if he’s the upgrade Chicago needs.

On the in-house side of things, the Bears re-signed some key defensive pieces in linebacker Danny Trevathan, defensive end Roy-Robertson Harris and safety Deon Bush.

These aren’t necessarily huge moves for the Bears, but adding a Super Bowl MVP quarterback to the mix, a pass rusher that can take the pressure off Mack and adding a veteran tight end isn’t bad at all.

Did Bleacher Report forget about teams like the Minnesota Vikings, who ended up losing half their secondary and didn’t appreciate Stefon Diggs? Or how about the Houston Texans who literally gave up DeAndre Hopkins for a bag of chips?

While the Bears haven’t had the best offseason, they definitely haven’t had the worst.

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Cryptic tweet suggests Ha Ha Clinton-Dix might re-sign with Bears

It was believed that Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was playing for a bigger contract, likely elsewhere. Or perhaps it’s with the Bears?

The Chicago Bears extended one of their core defenders in linebacker Danny Trevathan, who recently signed a deal that will keep him in Chicago through 2022.

With the extension, the Bears addressed the inside linebacker position making sure the duo of Trevathan and Roquan Smith remains in tact for the next few seasons.

But could there be another duo that’s set to remain together, this time in the defensive backfield?

While safety Eddie Jackson signed a well-deserved extension with the Bears, his partner-in-crime Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is poised to hit the free agent market following a solid season on a one-year prove-it deal with Chicago.

Or is he?

Clinton-Dix shared a cryptic tweet on Saturday that indicated he might be re-signing with the Bears this offseason.

Hit me so hard 😢. ❤️ Def thought about Danny before I signed with the bears. 🐻. Might do back flips when he hears the latest News. #21 #Beardown https://t.co/fdZcfHMzJC

— Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (@haha_cd6) March 14, 2020

Clinton-Dix quote tweeted a friend of his, whose son has been a big fan of his since his Alabama days. In the tweet, Clinton-Dix hinted that Danny, the son, “might do back flips when he hears the latest news.” Oh, and “#Beardown.”