Breaking Down Bilal Nichols: How a 5th-round draft pick could become one of the Bears defenses’ brightest young stars

Honestly, few Chicago Bears players have interested me quite like Bilal Nichols has. As a 5th round draft pick out of FCS-level Delaware, Nichols managed to do the impossible by standing out on a 2018 Bears defense that was absolutely loaded with talent. I’m sure you remember plenty of his highlights — his huge hit against Arizona, his TFL against Tampa Bay, and his forced fumble against New England certainly come to mind.

But how did he do it? What allows him to make such flashy plays? And what should we expect from him going forward? With these questions in mind, I dove deep into his 2018 tape to search for answers.

In this video you’ll see everything from Nichols’ 2018 growth as a player to the nuances of Akiem Hicks’ work against the pass and Eddie Goldman’s play against the run. Check it out and let me know what you think!