When off-season priorities come up for the Chicago Bears, most fans will agree that Justin Fields is central to everything. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus must do all in their power to upgrade the offensive roster around their talented young quarterback. Better receivers, better offensive line, Papa John’s. It is a perfectly rational thought process. This team isn’t going to compete with the big boys until their quarterback is armed enough to do so. However, there is one reason to think the biggest resources will be reserved for elsewhere.
That is the defensive line. This may frustrate certain fans. This organization has prioritized defense over helping its quarterbacks for too many years. However, there is a viable reason this time around. It’d be one thing if the Bears’ front four were slightly undermanned. That isn’t the case here. Barring something unexpected, there is a strong likelihood that the 2022 Bears defensive line will go down as the worst in franchise history. Here is one stat to help illustrate why.
Not only have they contributed to a run defense that ranks 30th in the NFL, allowing 151.2 yards per game. They have one sack in the past nine games. One. They have 8.5 for the season. For context, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa has 17.5 by himself. Go back and watch the game against Buffalo on Sunday. It is absurd how many times quarterback Josh Allen could’ve taken naps in the pocket without fear of pressure.
Ryan Poles has to fix that defensive line.
It is the engine that drives the entire scheme Eberflus and his staff brought to Chicago. A 4-3 defense is useless without a front four that can generate pressure. One could easily make the case they need three new starters, including two defensive ends and a proper three-technique defensive tackle. Justin Jones has been their most consistent presence, but he isn’t a star. They need at least one blue-chip talent. The good news is they’ll have a chance to land one next spring. Chicago has over $100 million in cap space and should end up with at least a top four pick in the 2023 draft.
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There will be viable options. Free agent defensive tackles Da’Ron Payne and Dre’Mont Jones could fill the three-technique requirements. Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue would be an immediate upgrade at defensive end. Then there are the exciting dual options of Will Anderson and Jalen Carter at the top of the draft. Both are considered generational-type talents. If Ryan Poles could land two of those five names, the Bears defensive line will be in a far better place going into 2023. As always, he’ll need some good luck to make that happen.
We had this exact situation in the past. I think it was under Lovie and his Tampa2. Everyone was ready to riot about how poorly our DBs were playing. Giving up huge games start after start. Couldn’t seem to cover anyone! Most of us didn’t see the relationship between pressure on the QB and good DB play. He made moves to build up the front 7 and suddenly the DBs began to shine in coverage and takeaways. Lesson learned! No One; no matter how good can cover top receivers forever.
For all those mad at Buffalo for scoring the tie breaker if three teams have the same record is point differential. Buf plays cin this week and could be tied with them and KC if KC loses.
D Jones or D Payne combined with W Anderson or M Murphy would create an scary front for the opposition. It would be a pick your poison type situation for DCs.
There are holes all over the roster. We knew that going in. I’d take am upgrade at any and every position on the roster. Noone on this team should feel “safe” right now.
NO ONE.
Poles,has said he will build this team through the draft and that means this year he’ll trade down and not take the top two defensive players because of a trade has more value than to pick one defensive player. There’s no defensive player in this draft that is worth two number ones and Poles knows this and based upon the last draft this draft will setup perfect for him. Yes the defense needs help and Poles is going to get it help, but remember the last ten years the Bears have had good defenses but lose or go no where… Read more »