Chicago Bears: Ranking the 5 best players under 25

The Chicago Bears have a lot of young, talented building blocks, but which players are the best?

A great way to evaluate the future of an NFL franchise, like the Chicago Bears, is to look at the young players on the roster. If there is a lot of young talent in place, then the team likely has a bright future. If the cupboard is bare, however, then the future will likely be pretty bleak and fans are in store for a long, bumpy ride.

The Chicago Bears are in pretty good shape when it comes to having young building blocks. That’s to be expected, after all, since the Bears have selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft for four-straight years (including 2016 when they traded-up from No. 11 to No. 9 to select Leonard Floyd). Ryan Pace has missed in free agency but has found some success in the Draft.

With this being said, let’s take a look at the best players on the Bears roster that are younger than 25 years old. For the sake of this list, the player must be 24 years old or younger when the season starts on Sept. 9 (which excludes current 24-year old Allen Robinson). In addition, since they have not taken one snap in the NFL, rookies will not be included.

5. Tarik Cohen, Opening Day Age: 23

It’s been a small sample size, but Tarik Cohen looks like the most explosive player the Bears have had since Devin Hester. In his rookie season, Cohen had 140 offensive touches for 723 total yards and three touchdowns. He also averaged 22.4 yards per kickoff return and 9.4 yards per punt return, including an electrifying return touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers.

His role figures to grow exponentially in 2018 under Matt Nagy. Cohen was on the field for 360 plays in 2017, yet that number figures to creep into the 400-range in 2018. He’s not the receiver that Tyreek Hill is, but Cohen figures to line up more as a wide receiver this year than last year. As we’ve all seen, it doesn’t take much for Cohen to turn a routine play into a big gain. With Nagy bringing more creativity to the offense, Cohen could be in store for a big (and fun) year.

4. Eddie Goldman, Opening Day Age: 24

When on the field, Eddie Goldman has proven to be an impact nose tackle in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 scheme. However, his nagging injuries have prevented him from blossoming into the player he has the potential to become. Goldman has missed 12 games due to injury in his three-year career, and he has been hampered in several other games with minor ailments. Consistency has also been an issue for the former Florida State Seminole. He’ll flash signs of brilliance one week, but then be “just a guy” the next week.

Goldman is entering a contract year and obviously has a lot to prove. He’s being counted on to be one of the pillars of the Bears defense, and given the lack of elite pass rushers at outside linebacker, the team will need him to get consistent pressure on the quarterback up the middle. His talent is unquestioned, but it’s time for Goldman to put it all together and have a career-year in 2018.

3. Eddie Jackson, Opening Day Age: 24

2. Mitchell Trubisky, Opening Day Age: 24

A year from now, Mitchell Trubisky will hopefully be sitting atop not just this list, but atop the entire roster. He’s clearly the most important player on the team, and both his and the Bears’ futures are tied hand-in-hand. His rookie season had its fair-share of ups-and-downs, but his immense talent was clear to see. Some of the throws he made were very special (i.e. the fourth-quarter completion to Kendall Wright against the Baltimore Ravens) and he seems to have the “it” factor NFL quarterbacks need.

Having a more creative offense and better playmakers around him should allow for a big second-year leap to be much more attainable for Trubisky. Jared Goff and Carson Wentz are just two of the more recent examples of quarterbacks who blossomed in their second season, and Trubisky will hope to follow their paths this year.

There will likely be some rough patches early in the season as Trubisky (and the entire team) try to master the new offense. However, the future is very bright for Trubisky and it appears that the team is set at quarterback for the next decade.

1. Jordan Howard, Opening Day Age: 23

While Trubisky has more talent and a brighter future, it’s Jordan Howard who has been the best player on the Bears roster for the past two seasons. In 2016, Howard made the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,313 yards and six touchdowns in just 13 starts. Last season, despite constantly facing eight-men boxes, Howard rushed for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns. His consistency and reliability are reminiscent of Matt Forte, and like the former Bear, Howard is able to put the team on his back for stretches at a time.

Next: NFL 2018: Rookie class bold predictions

While he may not be the most athletically gifted running back in the league nor a great pass catcher, Howard makes up for it with heart and a great motor. His role in Matt Nagy’s offense may be reduced a bit this season, but Howard is still a bell-cow running back who should help ease some of the burden being placed on Trubisky’s shoulders. The Bears were wise not to trade him this offseason, and Howard should be a fixture in the team’s lineup for years to come.

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