Chicago Bears' Top Candidates for Breakout Season in 2017

As of late, the Chicago Bears know a thing or two about breakout players.

Slogging through one of the NFL's most extensive rebuilds tends to unearth breakout performers provided those in charge—in this case general manager Ryan Pace—hit needs well in free agency and the draft.

Last year alone, the Bears saw rookie running back Jordan Howard, rookie center Cody Whitehair and rookie Leonard Floyd put on monster seasons. Add in recent breakouts by Akiem Hicks at end and others, and it only seems like a natural progression for the Bears to add more breakout players to the list in 2017.

Given the pace of the roster overhaul, most of the breakouts will once again be new arrivals. This isn't a bad thing, as it's one indicator among many that a rebuild continues to head in the right direction.

Without rookies to circle in red ink yet, here are a few guys on the roster perhaps ready to have breakout years in 2017.

Prince Amukamara

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Is this the year Prince Amukamara finally lives up to his billing as the No. 19 pick in the 2011 NFL draft?

Not to undersell Amukamara's career thus far, but he's had problems staying healthy and hasn't always been in a situation willing to use him to his strengths.

Last year, Amukamara had a one-season stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars and ranked as the 44th corner at PFF, allowing a 64.1 completion percentage with five touchdowns. The two sides didn't re-up after an odd fit.

Chicago defensive coordinator Vic Fangio might be the cure for all of Amukamara's problems. He'll trot out the physical corner as a press player on the boundary across from Marcus Cooper and let him play the way he should excel.

Amukamara will have to fight with Cooper, Kyle Fuller and others for a job in 2017. Given his pairing with one of the NFL's better defensive minds, he could finally have a breakout year, earning him a long-term gig and saving the Bears a gigantic headache.

Dion Sims

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Another free-agent add, tight end Dion Sims could have the breakout year he's been groomed for over the course of the past couple of seasons.

Sims was a block-first tight end when he entered the league, though the Miami Dolphins envisioned him doing much more and targeted him a career-high 39 times last year, per PFF.

He didn't put up notable numbers, but the 6'4", 265-pound veteran showed flashes when it comes to creating mismatches and beating defenders to the ball at its highest point, not to mention a little flash when it comes to yards after the catch.

Given the shaky injury history of veteran Zach Miller, Sims could be the top tight end by default at some point next year. Even if he's not, the Bears will deploy him in interesting ways while helping along a new face under center. If the Bears had strictly wanted an efficient blocker, they would have looked elsewhere.

Reliable play from the tight ends is a big part of Chicago's offense, so Sims should see more targets than ever and have a breakout year.

Kevin White

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Is this the year?

Bears fans are probably tired of waiting on Kevin White to break out, especially as folks were throwing around DeAndre Hopkins comparisons before the 2015 draft.

White actually got on the field last year and played in four games, at times showing flashes of the hype that had the Bears take him in the first place. Losing Alshon Jeffery this offseason, at least in part, had to be soothed over in Chicago by the fact White could still at least be a productive player if he can stay on the field.

If he can, offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains showed a good idea of what to expect over a full 16 games—plenty of short passes to make life easier on the quarterback, letting White do the legwork when it comes to getting up the field.

There's little doubt White has the upside of a top wideout. His first two years have been rough, but counting him out now is what a bad team would do. Give White a healthy season with a consistent running game and a starter who will feed him the ball well and he'll have his long-awaited breakout season on his hands.

Cameron Meredith

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Flash back to last year around this time for a moment—the idea of Cameron Meredith carrying more hype into 2017 than White would have been met with laughter at best.

Now it's not such a joke. Meredith had a full season to prove himself last year, making the most of up-and-down quarterback play to post 888 yards and four touchdowns over 14 games.

More important than the numbers, though, is the fact Meredith is 6'3" and can win on the outside with good speed. He's locked himself into a starting role, but more consistent quarterback play is where Meredith can really have a breakout campaign.

Pace actually talked about Meredith's development with WGN Radio's Adam Hoge and compared it to a notable developmental track traveled by one of his former guys in New Orleans:

"

Cam's a guy with a lot of upside, the path that he took, and just to see him mature over the past couple of years. I hate to make comparisons but I felt I saw this happen with (Marques) Colston a little bit, and Cam just has a great attitude right now, is getting better. I just love his skill set, love his professionalism, and I think we're going to see him ascend.

"

Meredith doesn't need to turn into the clear-cut No. 1 wideout if White can match his hype and role players like Kendall Wright have big years. But the more he can do for the Bears the better on a cheap contract, and serious needs elsewhere on the roster can be addressed without worrying about Jeffery's departure.

Mike Glennon

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It's been a long time since the Bears have had a breakout quarterback.

Mike Glennon might just be the guy to end the drought.

Glennon never got a fair shake on recent miserable Tampa Bay teams before the Jameis Winston era. He'll get one in Chicago for at least a year, playing with an elite interior offensive line, strong running game and—as hinted—a budding cast of weapons around him.

It's easy to cherry pick problems with Glennon so far considering he's hardly played over the past two seasons, but Pace and the front office see upside in a 27-year-old veteran who needs some help to succeed.

Next year will easily be the best of Glennon's career, health willing. A stable pocket and guys who can create after the catch around him will pad the numbers, not to mention a strong defense if the unit can stay healthy.

Remember, Glennon's presence doesn't stop the team from drafting a quarterback as high as No. 3 this year. But he could give the front office a good problem to have by posting a breakout season and creating competition for a developing rookie down the road.

All contract information courtesy of Spotrac unless otherwise specified. Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.