Lost in the excitement surrounding the Chicago Bears and the 2019 season is the fact that one of the team’s biggest recent investments, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, is facing what may be a make-or-break year.
The former ninth overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft has failed to live up to the expectations he entered the league with. At one time, he was expected to be the Bears’ version of Von Miller.
Yeah, not so much.
After three seasons in the league, Floyd has become more of a run defender than pass-rusher, and with the Bears’ trade for Khalil Mack in 2018, it’s obvious Floyd is no longer viewed as the team’s ace sack artist.
In fact, Floyd was recently dubbed the Bears player on the hot seat in 2019.
The Chicago Bears exercised Leonard Floyd’s fifth-year option, but his sack numbers have dropped every year since he entered the league in 2016. He’s recorded 7.0, 4.5 and 4.0, respectively.
It’s shocking, to be honest, that Floyd managed just four sacks last season with Mack lining up opposite him along the same defensive front. If he’s the kind of pass rusher his scouting report projected he’d be, he should’ve fallen into twice as many sacks with one hand tied behind his back.
Instead, he’ll have to prove in 2019 that he can be the ultimate complementary piece to Mack. He needs a season of at least eight sacks (which would be a career high) to move the Bears’ defense from one of the NFL’s best to a potentially special group.
There aren’t many reasons to feel confident he’ll do it, however. His health has always been a problem and even when healthy, he’s a one-trick speed rusher at this point in his career.
Floyd is a critically important piece to Chicago’s defense, even if it isn’t for the reasons why he was drafted. He’ll be a very good run defender again, and he’ll provide reliable coverage in the passing game. Anything beyond that will be a bonus for a player who’s failed to live up to his high draft status.
