While Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace has struggled when it’s come to first-round draft picks, he’s proven to have quite an eye for talent in the later rounds of the NFL draft.
One of those players that has made a name for himself is defensive tackle Bilal Nichols, who has stepped up in his third season in the absence of nose tackle Eddie Goldman.
Nichols, a former fifth-round pick, has impressed in his third season and has been an integral part of Chicago’s defensive line. His performance has garnered recognition from Touchdown Wire, who dubbed Nichols one of the NFL’s secret superstars in Week 15 for his effort against the Minnesota Vikings.
A 2018 fifth-rounder from Delaware, Nichols has flashed at times this season, and he already has a career-high 566 snaps in 2020, but his performance against the Vikings in Chicago’s 33-27 win featured several signature moments. Nichols was involved in two sacks, he had five total pressures and three stops.
When you have Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack on your defensive line, that means other guys have the opportunity to shine, and that’s just what Nichols is doing. On the season, he has five sacks, six quarterback hits, 17 quarterback hurries, and 26 stops.
Nichols had a sack, five total pressures and three stops in the 33-27 win over the Vikings. He was the Bears’ highest-graded defender per Pro Football Focus with an 85.5. He scored a 77.6 against the run and a 76.2 for his pass rush.
