The 2019 season has been one of revelations for the Chicago Bears. Most of them not good. Mitch Trubisky is getting the majority of the attention for his massive regression this past year, throwing just 17 touchdown passes and looking closer to his rookie form in 2017 than the kid who finished so strong in 2018. However, not enough people have talked about how disappointing outside linebacker Leonard Floyd was.
GM Ryan Pace had a lot of optimism about his former 1st round pick from 2016. After a miserable start to 2018, he finished the year strong with five sacks in the final nine games. This was enough for the team to pick up his 5th-year option for 2020. It was hoped they’d be thinking about a possible contract extension after a breakout year. Instead, they were faced with stark reality.
Floyd just isn’t a good pass rusher.
Despite playing across from Khalil Mack all season, he managed just three sacks in 16 games. Coaches have continued to swear by his run defense and excellent coverage skills. The problem is that’s not what he was drafted for. His primary job is to get the quarterback on the ground. He hasn’t done it. Now Jeff Hughes of Da Bear Blog, who’s had strong connections to what’s happening at Halas Hall of late, believes the team has accepted this and is prepared to find alternatives.
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“Leonard Floyd’s grades were positive in everything but the pass rush department. He’s a versatile player, great in coverage, but he’s never going to be dominant off the edge. Bears know they need to target the edge.”
Leonard Floyd had his chances and wasted them
Facts are facts. Floyd had four years to prove he could be that guy for the Bears. That is more time than a lot of players get. He’s done just enough to hang around, but no team is going to wait forever. Chicago knows they have only so many peak years of Mack left. They must do everything in their power to maximize them. This means finding a pass rusher who can actually get to the quarterback opposite him.
Floyd has his role to play. He can be a versatile chess piece for the Bears to move around in certain situations. When it comes time to attack the quarterback though, this must be a job for somebody else.
