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NFL Preseason: Grading each team’s top rookie after three weeks

By Dan Parzych

HONOLULU, HAWAII - AUGUST 17: Tony Pollard #36 of the Dallas Cowboys breaks out of a tackle by Marqui Christian #26 of the Los Angeles Rams during the preseason game at Aloha Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HAWAII - AUGUST 17: Tony Pollard #36 of the Dallas Cowboys breaks out of a tackle by Marqui Christian #26 of the Los Angeles Rams during the preseason game at Aloha Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Chicago Bears: Duke Shelley

The 2018 season was filled with plenty of great surprise teams that emerged as contenders out of nowhere, and right near the top of the list were the Chicago Bears during their first year under Matt Nagy.

Normally, most teams tend to go through a year or two of rebuilding under a new head coach, but watching the Bears end up being the team to beat in the NFC North shows how great of a job Nagy did.

Now, the question becomes whether Chicago can continue that momentum into the 2019 season to make sure they remain one of the top teams to beat in the NFC.

If this turns out to be the case, the Bears will need the defense to be one of the top units once again since the conference is filled with plenty of high-powered offenses standing in their way.

On top of all the talented players on defense returning for Chicago, the team also hopes to see Duke Shelley play a big role as a rookie, especially with the potential on display this preseason.

There aren’t many sixth-round picks that see plenty of action right away as a rookie, but Shelley could turn out to be a solid surprise if all goes well on defense for the Bears.

Grade: B+

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