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Moving up to select quarterback Mitch Trubisky last month was not the first time general manager Ryan Pace has traded up to get the player he has targeted. He did the same thing in order to get his hands on pass rusher Leonard Floyd in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley seemed very excited about what Floyd can do in his second NFL season.
‘‘Everyone knows that he’s capable of a lot, but what a lot of people don’t know is how much it means to him,’’ Staley told Adam Johns of the Chicago Sun-Times during this weekend’s rookie mini-camp. ‘‘He’s the type of guy that represents our franchise and our city really, really well.’’
Two of the biggest concerns for Floyd heading into the 2017 season is his health and his size. He was undersized at his position last season, but that does not appear as if that will be a problem for the upcoming year.
‘‘His body now is just so much different than when he came in here,’’ Staley said. ‘‘He was, like, 225 [pounds] when he came in here; he’s almost 250 [now]. He’s just a lot stronger player. He’s a lot more equipped to handle the rigors of the NFL.’’
Hopefully being in better shape will also help him stay healthy and on the field. Floyd showed flashes of being the dominant pass rushed he was drafted to be, so hopefully we see a progression this season.
Blazing Saddles
