Help is on the way for a defensive line that desperately needs it.
Defensive ends Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris are projected to be the “next man up” to replace Mitch Unrein at defensive end, while John Jenkins is the only player on the Bears’ roster with experience at nose tackle. He is lined up to take over for Eddie Goldman if he can’t play. So while Coward won’t likely see a heavy snap load, he should add to the depth along a defensive line that (when healthy) was one of the league’s most productive units – especially against the run.
Coward was viewed as a sleeper prospect when the Bears plucked him as an undrafted free agent back in May. Pro Football Focus ranked Coward 21st among 172 interior defenders (who played a minimum of 250 snaps) in his draft class. Coward graded out well against the run (17th) and as a pass-rusher (30th). His 9.5 run-stop percentage, which ranked 12th among defensive tackles in the 2017 draft class, should fit right in with Chicago’s stout rushing defense.
It was a bit of a surprise when the Bears didn’t draft any defensive linemen in the most recent draft, but adding Coward to the mix – even as an undrafted free agent – was a stealth move by GM Ryan Pace that will hopefully pay off over the long haul.
The Bears’ front line has been depleted in the last week with Unrein on injured reserve with a knee injury and Goldman listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Leading into Week 13, the trio of Unrein, Goldman, and Akiem Hicks was among the NFL’s best. Unfortunately, it looks like two of those three won’t be in action on Sunday.