This Super Bowl Champion should be the 1 player on Ryan Poles' radar in free agency
In a bid to foster a winning culture, it might be high time for the Chicago Bears to embrace a familiar face: Leonard Floyd. Floyd, an adaptable edge rusher, began his professional journey with the Bears, who selected him in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
In the subsequent season, the L.A. Rams decided to throw caution to the wind, acquiring big names like wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and edge rusher Von Miller to bolster their Super Bowl chances. The Rams, historically a strong team yet unable to clinch victory, managed to pull off a 12-5 season. But the Rams didn't stop there. They went on to triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI in an electrifying battle between two tenacious teams. During this extraordinary playoff journey, Floyd racked up two sacks and 12 total tackles.
However, a Super Bowl hangover hit the Rams hard. Wrestling with salary cap constraints, the Rams had no choice but to release Floyd this offseason due to his hefty contract. He remains an unrestricted free agent.
Considering his impressive track record, notching nine or more sacks in each of the past three seasons, it's clear that Floyd is in his prime. When placed in the right defensive system, he has demonstrated his capacity to shine.
In short, if the Bears are seeking a seasoned player boasting a Super Bowl ring, they need look no further than Floyd. With a young roster that, aside from safety Eddie Jackson and newly signed linebacker T.J. Edwards, lacks a sturdy veteran presence on defense � particularly in the wake of All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith's departure � Floyd could fill a critical gap.
In Floyd's last stint with the Bears, the team was a formidable contender for the NFC North title. In the 2018 season, the inaugural year of the erratic Matt Nagy era, Floyd was a mainstay in a talent-packed defense. That 2018 Bears squad was ranked as the league's top defense and served as the linchpin for the Bears' playoff run. Had it not been for the infamous "Double Doink," the Bears might have made it much further. Given the wide-open nature of the NFC North, the Bears would do well to offer Floyd a second stint and reignite their defensive line with a former champion.
| POLL | ||
27 MAI | 93 ANSWERS This Super Bowl Champion should be the 1 player on Ryan Poles' radar in free agency Should Ryan Poles bring back Leonard Floyd? | ||
| Yes | 56 | 60.2 % |
| No | 37 | 39.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
