When Bears left tackle Charles Leno made the Pro Bowl after the 2018 season, it was a particularly gratifying accomplishment for a player who came into the league as a seventh-round draft pick in 2014.
Not only was he a late-round pick, but the 6-3, 307-pound Boise State product had little continuity at one of football’s most demanding positions. Leno was playing for his fourth offensive line coach in six seasons in Harry Hiestand, and with his fourth left guard in six seasons in rookie James Daniels.
But staying at that level proved difficult. Whether it was human nature or just the difficulty in maintaining a high standard, Leno lost a little bit of his focus last season.