The Chicago Bears have undergone significant reconstruction on their defensive line, assembling promising components for future growth. Nonetheless, their work isn’t complete, and they must continue enhancing the unit in the upcoming offseason. What might the Bears’ defensive line look like after these offseason maneuvers?
Primarily, their foundational pieces consist mostly of acquisitions from the previous offseason or mid-season. At the edge rusher position, Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker stand out as the only reliable options. Yannick Ngakoue and Rasheem Green will depart, while Dominique Robinson fell out of favor following Sweat’s arrival.
Consequently, the Bears require two additional edge rushers. While Walker provides stability, he’s better suited as a rotational player capable of contributing both inside and outside. Hence, the team would be wise to pursue a prominent free agent or draft a top-ten prospect. With Sweat’s prowess secured and Walker as depth, allocating resources towards another premier rusher allows them to explore cheaper veteran options or day-three draft picks for the fourth edge rusher spot, fostering competition within the roster.
Transitioning to the interior, the Bears secured Andrew Billings as the nose tackle through free agency. Their optimism lies in the potential development of Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, who showed glimpses of promise in their rookie seasons. However, the team’s confidence in Pickens remains uncertain.
If Pickens demonstrates improvement, the team’s focus shifts to securing a backup nose tackle behind Billings, a role that’s relatively inexpensive to fulfill given its limited demand. Conversely, if doubts persist regarding Pickens’ progress, he becomes Billings’ understudy, necessitating greater investment in a player capable of effectively alternating with Dexter at the three-technique position.
Overall, the most probable scenario involves the Bears acquiring a top-tier edge rusher, a supplementary rusher for depth, and a backup nose tackle as their primary additions to the defensive line in the offseason.