NFL power rankings: Patriots, Packers among Super Bowl favorites
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Chicago Bears 0-0
Last week: L, 25-0 vs. CLE
Last rank: 31st
No team had a stranger offseason than the Chicago Bears, and that is saying something in a year when three teams fired their general manager after April. Chicago signed quarterback Mike Glennon to a three-year deal worth $45 million, only to trade up in the draft to select Mitchell Trubisky with the second-overall pick. Trubisky projects to sit behind Glennon this year, while the veteran tries to drive up his trade value for 2018.
Glennon doesn’t have much to work with outside of running back Jordan Howard, who is a rising star in the league. As a rookie, Howard rushed for 1,313 yards on 5.2 yards per carry. If Chicago is going to surprise anybody in the NFC North, it will be because of Howard. On the outside, Cam Meredith and Kevin White are both brimming with potential, but remain secondary targets on a good team. Meredith did make strides in 2016, catching 66 passes for 888 yards.
Defensively, Leonard Floyd stands to be a bright spot. The rookie totaled seven sacks in 12 games last year, while Willie Young and Akiem Hicks amassed 14.5 between them. The roster is still a significant work in progress, but Chicago has young talent to be excited about.