"The Bears' pass rush ranked 22nd in sacks and 29th in pressure percentage last season. Those numbers needed to get better. The roster, on paper, doesn't scream that they will."
"Chicago could have sent two first-rounders to Las Vegas for Maxx Crosby - the price Baltimore was willing to pay before backing out. They could have handed Trey Hendrickson $112 million. You're allowed to have feelings about both of those decisions. The Bears' front office decided those paths weren't right for them, and we can disagree without pretending General Manager Ryan Poles was asleep at the wheel."
"Pick No. 25 was a spot where an edge rusher or interior lineman with a realistic path to contributing in 2026 could have made sense, but Dillon Thieneman fell, and the Bears viewed him as the best player available. I tend to agree with that call, even if the optics stung. The board didn't lead them to a defensive line answer the rest of the way, and we can debate who was available and when until we're blue in the face. It won't change anything."
"There's roster depth on this defensive line. There's money and draft capital that's been invested in this group. What there isn't - and this is where the honest conversation has to start - is a name that makes you feel like the unit is going to be markedly better than what we saw last season, even with better health. I think most Bears fans agree on that."
The Bears defensive line has many names but lacks a clear, standout impact that signals a major improvement. Last season’s pass rush ranked 22nd in sacks and 29th in pressure percentage, creating pressure to improve. Free agency and draft choices did not deliver a definitive defensive line upgrade, despite opportunities to pursue established pass rushers. The 2025 draft pick at No. 25 went to Dillon Thieneman after he fell, and the rest of the board did not provide a consistent defensive line solution. Current roster depth and invested resources exist, but the unit still does not inspire confidence that it will outperform last season even with improved health.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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