The Bears aren’t picky anymore.
After years of debating “interior vs. edge,” Chicago has reached a blunt conclusion: just get someone who can hit the quarterback.

Bears Desperate for Pass Rush — Position No Longer Matters

For three seasons under Matt Eberflus, the Chicago Bears emphasized one idea: pressure up the middle is the fastest way to disrupt a quarterback.

The theory sounded good.

The results did not.

Chicago finished near the bottom of the league in pass-rush win rate, recorded just 35 sacks, and ranked 29th against the run. The defensive front simply didn’t dominate — anywhere.

Now, under head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, the philosophy has shifted dramatically.

Interior rusher? Edge threat? Hybrid tweener?

It no longer matters.

Just find someone who can get home.

“Yes.”

At the NFL Combine, Johnson was asked whether defensive tackle or edge rusher was the bigger priority.

His answer?

Essentially, “Yes.”

“We just need good football players all across the board,” Johnson said. “If that’s interior rush — we’ll take it. If that’s on the edge and fits the bill — we’ll take that as well.”

That’s not indecision. That’s urgency.

Chicago’s defense doesn’t need specialization right now. It needs disruption.

The Bigger Problem: A Defense Missing Starters

The Bears aren’t just searching for pass rush help. They currently lack clear starters at:

Left tackle
Linebacker
Free safety
Strong safety

But despite those holes, pressure remains the heartbeat issue.

“For us to take the next step as a defense, we do need to pressure the quarterback at a more consistent clip,” Johnson admitted.

Translation: if the Bears can’t affect the quarterback, none of the other improvements matter.

Development or Upgrade?

There are young players still developing — and Chicago hasn’t given up on them.

Gervon Dexter, still just 24 years old, has improved every season and ranked among the top 10 in sacks at his position. His athletic profile remains intriguing — he ran a 4.88 at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds at the 2023 Combine.

But Dexter needs growth as a run defender.

Austin Booker and Shemar Turner are also part of the internal development equation.

Still, development alone won’t be enough.

The Bears know it.

What the Combine Told Them

Thursday’s defensive line workouts in Indianapolis provided clues — but not clear answers.

Several edge rushers posted impressive Relative Athletic Scores:

Dani Dennis-Sutton (9.93 RAS)
Malachi Lawrence (9.90)
David Bailey (9.67)
T.J. Parker (9.33)

The fastest 40 times came from lighter edge players like Ohio State’s Arvell Reese (4.46) and Texas Tech’s David Bailey (4.51).

But speed alone doesn’t win in Chicago’s scheme. The Bears prefer sturdier edges capable of setting the edge against the run — not just sprinting around tackles.

On the interior, Penn State’s Zane Durant (4.75 at 290 pounds) stood out. Several other defensive tackles clocked sub-5.0 times, showing surprising explosiveness for their size.

Yet Johnson understands something fans often overlook:

Forty-yard dash times don’t equal game speed.

Some players test fast but don’t translate. Others test modestly and dominate on tape.

That’s why prospects like Miami’s Rueben Bain — whose arm length raised eyebrows — likely won’t fall far. His film speaks louder than measurements.

Free Agency Still in Play

This isn’t strictly about the draft.

Free agency begins soon, and Johnson made it clear Chicago is evaluating veteran options as well.

“There’s some guys out there that we feel like could help us out,” he said.

The Bears may restructure contracts to create cap flexibility. They may explore trades. They may add a veteran who can stabilize the defensive front immediately.

What’s clear is this: they can’t afford another season ranking near the bottom in pressure rate.

No More Preferences — Just Production

The Bears’ old approach focused on schematic preference.

Now, it’s about production.

They don’t care where the rusher lines up.

They care about who finishes the play.

If that player comes from Round 1, Round 3, or free agency, so be it.

Chicago’s defense doesn’t need theoretical fits.

It needs someone who makes quarterbacks uncomfortable.

Immediately.