15 Most Important Bears of 2018: No. 11 – Tarik Cohen

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Tarik Cohen has a chance to become a special player for the Bears, both on and off the field. His dynamic athleticism and larger-than-life personality have superstar potential, and with a bigger role in Matt Nagy's offense this season, he setting up to be Chicago's biggest headliner.

Cohen will be given every chance to carve out his niche in the Bears' offense early in the year. He'll be used in a variety of ways by Nagy as a runner and receiver, and it won't simply be as a gadget player. Nagy spoke highly of Cohen's ability to run both inside and outside, so expect traditional running plays to be on his call sheet when Cohen is in the game, too. 

MORE: Most Important Bears of 2018: 15 - Taylor Gabriel, 14 - Trey Burton, 13 - Danny Trevathan, 12 - Eddie Jackson

What really separates Cohen from any other running back on the roster is his ability to run routes like a skilled wide receiver. He's arguably the team's biggest mismatch; there's no linebacker or safety in the NFL that can cover him in space. Cohen has been compared to Darren Sproles because of his height (or lack thereof) and overall skill set, and it's a fair assessment. 

In 2011, Sproles, then a member of the Saints, ran for 603 yards and added another 710 as a receiver. He scored nine total touchdowns in a stat line that seems very much within reach for Cohen in 2018. Essentially, Cohen's production from his rookie season could double.

And don't forget about his electrifying skill set as a kick returner. He's been recognized this offseason as one of the NFL's best young return men because of his 855 total return yards last year.

Cohen is so critically important to the Bears' success this year for a variety of reasons, but most importantly, he will be Nagy's superhero for the offense. If a big play is needed, it's Cohen who will be at the top of his list to target. And if he delivers for Nagy and builds confidence within the coaching staff, his role will only continue to grow.

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