Sleeper NFL Playoff Team: Chicago Bears

For Bears fans, it has been a tough five years since the team last reached the playoffs. During this tough stretch, the team has had a cumulative record of 37-43 and finished 20th or worse twice. Luckily for the people of Chicago,  their hardships may come to an end soon.

Though they ended the 2015 season with a disappointing six wins  and ten losses, the Bears’ team statistics were no worse than mediocre. Their total offensive and defensive grades resulted with a 19th, and 14th rankings respectively.

Chicago’s wide receiving corps is one of the best in the NFL,  and their offense will harbor two extremely talented receivers. Kevin White, the 7th overall pick in 2014, pairs his elite speed (4.3 40 time at the Draft Combine) with ideal measurables (6’3”, 215 lbs). He will make his NFL debut this year. Though the West Virginia alum missed his rookie season in its entirety due to an ACL injury, he was compared to NFL star DeAndre Hopkins coming out of college.

As one of the most overlooked receivers in the NFL, Alshon Jeffery will be ready to make a huge impact for Chicago this season. Jeffrey excelled when healthy the last two season, posting top ten numbers in both receiving yards and yards after catch. The duo of Alshon and White will be a nightmare matchup for NFC teams, and a help to quarterback Jay Cutler.

Most importantly, the Bears had the best offseason of any NFL organization.

In free agency, general manager Ryan Pace brought in a plethora of talent. In order to solidify the team’s struggle linebacking core, the Windy City obtained middle linebackers, Danny Trevathan, and Jerrell Freeman. Trevathan was the anchor of the Broncos’ defense and was one of only three linebackers who graded within the top twelve in run defense and pass coverage last year. Freeman, on the other hand, had a 97.9 run-defense grade, according to Pro Football Focus, best in the league.

Former Patriot five-tech Akiem Hicks is a new face that should improve the Bears’ trenches and fit nicely with the Bears’ 3-4 defense. Over the last four weeks in 2015, Hicks had three sacks and ten hurries.

Through the draft, Chicago acquired some of the most talented college players in the country. Leonard Floyd, an OLB out of Georgia, has welcomed versatility that can help defensive coordinator Vic Fangio bring a faster defense to the Bears.

In the third round, Ryan Pace drafted defensive end Jonathan Bullard, a Florida alum. Bullard will make an immediate impact on the Bears’ line and bring depth to their defense.

By retaining talents such as veteran quarterback Jay Cutler, and third-year corner Kyle Fuller, Chicago has the potential to return to the playoffs for the first time in half a decade.

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