Rookie development is a luxury for good teams, but it’s a necessity for the Bears. Unlike contenders, who consider it a bonus if their draft picks contribute right away, the Bears are depending on it.
And they need it now.
With the Bears hosting the Vikings in Week 6 on Sunday, the rookies should be off the runway and ascending. That’s especially true for the players they drafted in the first four rounds — six of the top 135 picks. They need to deliver, and the definition of that varies based on what they’ve shown so far.