Chicago Bears: Standout players from Week 17 vs. Vikings
Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis, Linebackers
The Chicago Bears have an interesting situation they need to attend to in 2020. They have a solid linebackers unit, but they’ll have several players who become free agents. Danny Trevathan, Aaron Lynch, Kevin Pierre-Louis and Nick Kwiatkoski all are free to go elsewhere in 2020. Will the Bears have them all return? That is doubtful.
Pierre-Louis, playing in place of injured Roquan Smith, had six tackles, a pass defended and an interception. He filled in well after Smith went down in Week 14. He recorded 28 tackles and defended three passes to go with that interception. He also had some bad penalties last week that extended multiple drives and resulted in touchdowns for the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Pierre-Louis showed he is no Smith but he is certainly a good backup for him.
Kwiatkoski also filled in for an injured starter, Trevathan. He had eight tackles in the finale (two for loss) and for the time he came in for Trevathan he recorded 58 tackles (six for loss), two sacks, two quarterback hits and four passes defended.
Kwiatkoski might have priced himself out of Chicago, however. While many fans feel the Bears should let Trevathan walk and sign Kwiatkoski as the starter, he still has trouble in coverage and his lack of athleticism will be exposed when he plays more snaps.
Some team will try Kwiatkoski as a starter and pay him. He took advantage of his opportunity and played well enough to earn a big contract, but not in Chicago. Trevathan’s injury gives the Bears a chance to re-sign him at a lower cost. It may be more advantageous to sign Trevathan and let Kwiatkoski walk.
At the end of the day, I feel the Chicago Bears re-sign Pierre-Louis and Trevathan and let Lynch and Kwiatkoski walk.