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: 8thThey 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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