Chicago Bears Training Camp Battle 2017: Jaye Howard vs. Jonathan Bullard

One of the more interesting training camp battles for the Chicago Bears is at defensive end, with Jaye Howard competing against Jonathan Bullard.

The Chicago Bears have two defensive linemen cemented as starters for the upcoming 2017 season: Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman. Hicks is a rising star and should push for his first career Pro Bowl trip this fall. Goldman is a force when healthy, but he’s been battling injuries his first two seasons in the league. If both can stay on the field for a full 16 games, the Bears should have a very solid duo.

The other defensive end spot in the 3-4 defense, however, is still up for grabs. The two main competitors for the starting gig are second-year player Jonathan Bullard and recently signed veteran Jaye Howard. Others will push for the spot (in particular Mitch Unrein), but it would be best suited for the Bears if either Bullard or Howard runs away with the job.

Bullard, a third-round pick in 2016, had a disappointing rookie season. In 14 games (with just one start), the former Florida Gator compiled only one sack and 18 tackles. He received a poor grade from Pro Football Focus Edge of just 46.5 in his 296 snaps played. Bullard has the quickness and explosion that scouts drool over, but it was quite apparent last season that he is still raw. He could look to add some more muscle, and his technique (i.e. consistent pad level) is still a work in progress.

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Howard, on the other hand, performed much better in 2016. In 360 snaps for the Kansas City Chiefs, he posted a solid 75.6 grade from Pro Football Focus (via PFF Edge). That grade is in line with what he did in 2014 and 2015, a time period in which Howard totaled 6.5 sacks and 93 tackles. He injured his hip last December, but he should be a full go in training camp.

If Howard can stay healthy, he could be a phenomenal pickup. An ideal fit for the 3-4 defensive end, Howard would pair nicely with Goldman and Hicks to give the Bears a pretty formidable defensive front.

However, the Bears might be pulling for Bullard to win the job. After all, Bullard was a high draft choice by this front office and is five years younger than Howard. In addition, Bullard still has three years left on his contract, compared to the one-year deal Howard signed in May. For the long-term success of the organization, it would probably be best if the younger Bullard won the job outright and never looked back.

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This competition figures to go on all training camp long, as neither player is a sure thing. Howard could very well win it, but it’s assumed that the Bears will give Bullard a little more leeway. As it stands now, it appears that Bullard has the inside track for the starting spot.