Parade of Studs
Next to the Associated Press, there is no more widely respected opinion in the media regarding the NFL than the Pro Football Writers of America. They’ve selected winners of every major league award going back decades from MVP to Coach of the Year. Another honor that garners lots of attention is who makes up their annual All-Rookie team.
With the 2016 season almost at an end, the final selections are in at every position. Suffice to say that looking across the roster, Pace more than did the job in his second year running the organization.
Here is the full list of 2016 individual and All-Rookie team honors as selected by the PFWA: pic.twitter.com/N7vZTtHCBe
— Pro Football Writers (@PFWAwriters) January 17, 2017
Getting one or two names on this list would be constituted as a success for a franchise. To think Chicago got three is beyond impressive. Not to mention exciting for the future. This could mean big things are around the corner for the Bears if those prospects continue to grow as expected.
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Leonard Floyd was the first round pick last April. The Bears traded up from #11 to #9 in order to select him. After a slow start hampered by injuries, the Georgia outside linebacker exploded for 6.5 sacks in five games. It was a proper showcase of the explosive athleticism that makes him so dangerous moving forward.
Cody Whitehair was an offensive tackle out of Kansas State who fell into their laps late in the second round. This after Pace traded down twice, no less. Given his advanced technique, athleticism and toughness it was felt he’d make a perfect candidate for center. Despite never starting at the position before, Whitehair became the sixth-highest rated center in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus and the only interior lineman who started every game.
Then of course there is Jordan Howard. A fifth round flier out of Indiana, he arrived as a big running back who was expected to become a quality backup to Jeremy Langford. Just four games into the season he emerged as the starter. By the time he was finished, he’d rampaged through the league for 1, 313 yards. Good for second-most in the league. He is the teams’ only Pro Bowl selection.
Not bad at all.
