Detroit Lions, NFC North positional preview: Cornerback
Chicago Bears
Key returning players: Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Kevin Toliver, Sherrick McManis
New additions: Buster Skrine, Stephen Denmark (R), Duke Shelley (R)
Key losses: Bryce Callahan
27 interceptions. Five of them brought back for touchdowns. Just 219 yards given up through the air per game. The Chicago Bears secondary was outstanding in 2018, and its cornerbacks played a major role in their impressive performance.
In March of last year, rising star corner Kyle Fuller signed a four-year, $56 million offer sheet with the Green Bay Packers. The Bears quickly matched the offer, keeping their former first rounder in Chicago. The move paid off.
Fuller had his best season in 2018, finishing with a league high seven interceptions, and an excellent overall grade of 81.4 based on Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) advanced statistics, tied for seventh best in the NFL among cornerbacks. He also took on more of a leadership role as the Bears rode a dominant defense to a division title. Fuller has also played in every game since missing the entire 2016 season with knee problems.
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Alongside Fuller, veteran Prince Amukamara also enjoyed a fine 2018, tying a career high with three picks and starting his most games since the 2013 season. He was also the recipient of a lucrative contract extension from the Bears in 2018, and he and Fuller have both been excellent returns on the pricey investments the Bears made in the secondary last season. They should form an imposing tandem again this season.
In the slot, the Bears watched Bryce Callahan, yet another Bears corner coming off of a career best campaign, sign with the Denver Broncos. Callahan rejoins his former defensive coordinator in Chicago, Vic Fangio, now head coach of the Broncos. He will earn an average base salary of $7 million over the next three years in Denver, a figure that the Bears weren’t willing to offer considering his durability concerns.
Instead, they signed veteran nickel corner Buster Skrine, previously of the New York Jets, a day before Callahan joined the Broncos. Skrine simply isn’t the playmaker that Callahan is in the slot, but he is slightly cheaper and is much sturdier; he has missed only five games in his eight-year career.
Behind the projected starters, veteran Sherrick Mcmanis, a Chicago-area native and Bear since 2012, will try to hold off a trio of young players for special teams snaps and spot duty on defense. Kevin Toliver appeared in 15 games as a rookie in 2018 and will look for a bigger role this year. Rookies Duke Shelley and Stephen Denmark are raw, but intriguing prospects, who aren’t likely to see much playing time this season. Denmark is quite a specimen; at 6-3 and 220 pounds, he’s built more like a receiver.
The Bears should once again field one of the top defenses in the NFL, and their group of cornerbacks will help give opposing passing games fits for the second year in a row. While their incredible team total of nearly 30 interceptions is unlikely to be reached again, Chicago has a deep and well-rounded coverage unit with talented veterans and intriguing youngsters in the pipeline. It’s just one of many strengths on a loaded roster.
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