The Chicago Bears report to training camp on Thursday and will welcome a season with expectations unlike any this team has had in many, many years.
The comparisons to the Bears’ championship run in 1985 are unavoidable because of the stout defense and an offense that feels like it’s starting to catch up. We touched on what realistic expectations for this team should be heading into the fall, but it’s hard not to get excited about Chicago’s upside assuming the roster stays healthy.
In order for the Bears to make a deep playoff run this season, several key players have to break out. Even the guys who’ve already established themselves as dominant pros need to elevate their game.
Here’s a look at which Bears players will take home this year’s team awards.
Team MVP: Eddie Jackson
The popular pick might be Trubisky or Khalil Mack, but it’s Jackson who will emerge this season as the team’s most valuable player. There’s an argument to be made that he already proved his value through his absence in last year’s wild-card playoff loss to the Eagles. Had Jackson played in that game, the Bears very likely would’ve advanced to the divisional round.
Jackson has emerged as one of the top all-around safeties in the NFL in just two seasons as a pro, and it’s scary to think he can actually get better. He’s playing in a golden era of passing offenses, which means he’ll have more than his fair share of opportunities to make plays on the ball.
Mack will provide the pressure, but it will be Jackson who makes more game-changing and field-flipping plays on defense.
Most Improved Player: Mitchell Trubisky
This one’s pretty easy. It’s the second year of Matt Nagy’s offense, and no player should experience more improvement than Trubisky. He already flashed high-end playmaking upside in 2018, both as a runner and passer, and now with a full year of experience in the offense, he should be ready to take off.
Nagy said earlier this offseason that Trubisky has moved from learning the offense to teaching it to his teammates. That’s a great sign and proof that he’s already taken that critical step off the field.
He’ll prove it on the field, too.
Comeback Player of the Year: Allen Robinson
Was Robinson a disappointment in 2018? Maybe; at least, if you’re basing your opinion on fantasy football stats. But 2019 is really the season to form an opinion on A-Rob, who is now two years removed from his torn ACL.
Robinson’s best game was the Bears’ last one in 2018. He went off for 10 catches, 143 yards and a touchdown in the team’s playoff loss to the Eagles and finally looked like the guy who dominated NFL defenses as a Jaguar in 2015.
That A-Rob will be back in 2019. He’ll be a real X-factor.
Rookie of the Year: Duke Shelley
The Bears didn’t have a traditional draft class in 2019. They were without a first- or second-round pick because of the trade for Mack, and while third-round pick David Montgomery will be the headliner all season, it’s sixth-rounder Duke Shelley who will be one of the special stories of the year.
The former Kansas State standout was a star in offseason workouts and will have an opportunity to earn playing time early this season even with Buster Skrine on the roster. His coverage skills were never in doubt as a prospect, and assuming he stays healthy, he’ll rise up the depth chart and into a legitimate competition to start by the time the season begins.
Call it a hunch, but Shelley will be one of the surprise stars on defense in 2019.
Offensive Player of the Year: Anthony Miller
As good as Robinson may be in 2019, Miller has a chance to be even better. His quick-twitch route-running is a perfect match for Nagy’s offense, and he proved early in his rookie season he can separate from NFL defensive backs on a consistent basis.
In fact, he would’ve had an even better rookie season had Trubisky’s timing with him been better. And there was the shoulder injury that limited his availability, too.
The Bears used a second-round pick on Miller for a reason. He’s going to be a focal point of the offense. He’ll eclipse 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019 and prove he’s one of the most important offensive pieces on this roster.
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack
The season begins and ends with Mack. He’s the Bears’ one true game-wrecker, and with a complete offseason and training camp under his belt with Chicago, finishing with 20 sacks is not out of reach.
As long as Mack stays healthy, he’ll be one of the two or three most important players on this team. And if it weren’t for Jackson, he’d be the obvious candidate to win MVP.
Mack is the heartbeat of this roster and will be thumping all season long.
