FORTUNE- TELLING
The Bears’ promising rookie class — one that was lauded nationally — can start to show off that promise when Matt Nagy’s first rookie minicamp opens Friday. With high hopes in mind, here’s a look at what the expectations should be for the rookie class:
LB ROQUAN SMITH
The job: Tone- setting starter. Smith’s transition should be eased by joining a Bears defense that finished 10th in total yards last season and with building- block players all around him.
But that only enhances expectations for him.
Smith’s makeup — his sideline- to-sideline speed, athleticism, instincts and tenacity — is expected to help transform a good defense into a great one.
That said, comparisons to Patrick Willis should be curtailed in the early going.
When Vic Fangio took over the 49ers’ defense in 2011, Willis was in his fifth season and already an All Pro/ Pro Bowl player. Navorro Bowman, another All Pro/ Pro Bowl linebacker under Fangio, was in his second season.
Smith must impress off the field, too. The Bears’ defense became his when they selected him with the eighth overall pick. He needs to be the tone- setting leader he was at Georgia
“He has outstanding intangibles,” general manager Ryan Pace said.
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky could be the perfect sounding board. Trubisky naturally assumed a leadership role last year despite being a rookie and beginning the season as a backup.
G/ C JAMES DANIELS
The job: Full- time starter. After selecting Daniels with the 39th pick, Pace said he would compete at left guard, mentioning veteran Eric Kush as a versatile interior lineman to consider.
Right guard, meanwhile, is in flux, with Kyle Long still improving after three offseason surgeries. Earl Watford ( six- year veteran) and Jordan Morgan ( 2017 fifthround pick) are also on the roster. “They have to battle all- out,” Pace said. But it’s a battle in which Daniels — widely considered one of the best interior linemen in this year’s draft — starts off as a leader.
At 20, Daniels is an ideal pupil for esteemed line coach Harry Hiestand. Daniels’ athleticism and experience in Iowa’s zone scheme help, too.
Under Pace, the Bears weren’t timid about starting Cody Whitehair as a rookie.
Nagy also will look for Daniels to play early on. Tackle Eric Fisher ( No. 1 pick, 2013), guard Zach Fulton ( No. 193, 2014) and center Mitch Morse ( No. 49, 2015) were full- time starters for the Chiefs as rookies.
WR ANTHONY MILLER
The job: Instant contributor. Some rookie receivers struggle immensely with timing and expanding their routes because of the college offenses they came from. See Kevin White.
But Miller’s route- running is considered a strength.
“He likes to stick the top of the route, and it’s sharp,” Nagy said of watching Miller. “So what that does is, it sets the angle for the quarterback. And you don’t see that from every wide receiver.”
Nagy said that Miller, the 51st overall selection, can play anywhere, but he will start off as the “zebra” or in the slot.
That doesn’t mean that Miller will be behind speedster Taylor Gabriel or that Gabriel already has been replaced ( the Bears are paying him too much money).
Nagy described his offense as flexible. Gabriel and Miller are different receivers who provide Nagy with more options. Again, Nagy won’t limit a skilled rookie, either. In Nagy’s first season as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator in 2016, receiver Tyreek Hill, a fifth- round pick that year, caught 61 passes for 593 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran for three scores and 267 yards on 24 carries.