Chicago Bears: 6 Players who likely won’t return in 2020

Leonard Floyd, Linebacker

Here is another Chicago Bears high draft pick who hasn’t played the way the team expected. Leonard Floyd came to the Bears with an incredible amount of athletic ability. He is quick off the snap and can drop back into coverage effectively.

The problem with Floyd is his weight. He came into the league a lean 244 pounds in a 6-6 frame. He is about 255 now, but it seems that the weight is keeping him from making plays. When a 300+ pound offensive lineman gets his hands on him, Leonard can’t get free.

Floyd has an advantage that many other outside linebackers don’t have — he plays opposite the top two linebackers in the NFL, Khalil Mack. Mack’s incredible play attracts double teams, which gives Floyd many one-on-one matchups. With that, he should have many opportunities to record sacks.

That hasn’t happened so far, however.

Floyd had his worse season in terms of sacks in his first season playing with Mack. He registered only four sacks. This season, the bad trend continues. He has only three sacks, two of them coming in Week 1 vs. the Packers (his favorite team to go up against), and Week 10 against the Lions. He needs to get to the quarterback more when Mack gets all the attention.

Floyd’s weak play really affects Mack. He continually receives double teams and when he gets past them there is another player waiting for him. He needs to get through a maze of humanity to get to the quarterback.

Despite all of that, Mack has more sacks (5.5) and more tackles (34 to 26) than Floyd. That is unacceptable.

Floyd is fortunate that Trubisky’s shortcomings garner all the attention. His poor play is affecting the defense’s ability to get to the opponent’s backfield. Mack is still having a good season but it isn’t to the level he is used to playing. He keeps running into walls and when the fourth quarter rolls around he finds himself tired.

The Bears picked up Floyd’s fifth-year option but it is only guaranteed in case of injury. He has a history of injury so if the Bears find themselves out of playoff contention look for them to cut his playing time. If he doesn’t return in 2020, the Bears save themselves $13.22 million. They can then go out and find themselves another linebacker who complements Mack and helps him get back to creating havoc.