Chicago Bears: 5 Breakout players set to shine in 2019

2. Leonard Floyd, Linebacker

Okay, I know what you’re saying now. Every season it seems is the season that Leonard Floyd has his breakout season. If you say it enough times it’ll be true, right? Well, an offseason without having to deal with injuries and weight trouble and having a new defensive coordinator this just might be the season Floyd shines.

In three seasons with the Bears, Floyd recorded just 15.5 sacks. He had seven of them in his rookie season and just 8.5 in his next two seasons combined.

Additionally, Floyd missed a lot of time due to injuries. He missed 10 games in his three seasons. He came in underweight at 244 pounds. He’s added about eight pounds of muscle and is stronger now. This offseason, instead of rehabbing an injury or two, he spent it in the weight room and on the field improving on his technique.

The presence of Pagano will benefit Floyd. Pagano is a more aggressive coach than former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was. Fangio liked to drop Floyd and Khalil Mack into coverage. Floyd did some of that in college but it wasn’t something he excelled in. Now he’ll be asked to rush the quarterback much more. He is gifted athletically and has great quickness, so with additional moves, he’ll be able to blow past slower offensive linemen.

This season Floyd will play a style that he and the Chicago Bears envisioned when he came over. He’ll use his gifts to go after and harass opposing quarterbacks. We might see double-digit sacks from him given the fact that Mack will see more double teams. If both players get 10 or more sacks each there should be many quarterbacks who will run for their lives.