GM Ryan Poles knew rebuilding the Chicago Bears would be a long and often difficult process. He wanted to do it through the draft. While that is the right way, it also takes time. Modern fans don’t have the patience for something like that. The past 26 games Poles has been in charge aren’t helping his case. Chicago has five victories in that span. It is by far the worst stretch of Bears football in franchise history. Head coach Matt Eberflus looks overwhelmed by his responsibilities. Many young players aren’t progressing as hoped. It is evident several holes remain across the roster.
The obvious question becomes what Poles will prioritize. Adam Jahns of The Athletic has a pretty good idea. He predicted in a recent column that the Bears would make the three-technique interior pass rusher one of their strongest focuses.
“Finding a three-technique DT will be Poles’ offseason obsession.
When projecting the Bears’ defensive line for the 2024 season, one piece is missing. The Bears have Sweat and DeMarcus Walker at defensive end and Andrew Billings at nose guard.
Who plays the three-technique? Who is the Bears’ best interior pass rusher?”
It isn’t surprising. Interior pass rush is vital to the Bears’ entire defensive scheme. Through eight games, their defensive tackles have combined for 1.5 sacks. It isn’t just bad, but all-time bad. This goes a long way in explaining why the sack numbers are down for the Bears’ edge rushers as well. With nobody to consistently squeeze the pocket, quarterbacks can evade the arcs by simply stepping up.
Ryan Poles will have three notable options.
Two big free agents could immediately solve the problem depending on what happens with the franchise tags. One is future Hall of Famer Chris Jones. He could depart Kansas City after years of untouchable success, hoping to land one more big payday. Poles helped draft him back in 2016. The other is Justin Madubuike. The former 3rd round pick is having a breakout season with the Baltimore Ravens, collecting 7.5 sacks in nine games. His interior rush is vital to the Ravens’ status as the #1 defense in the league.
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If the Bears don’t wish to spend money on a veteran, then the draft is their other avenue. In that case, one name stands far above the rest. That is Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois. Most experts see him as the best interior pass rusher in the 2024 class, collecting 10 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss in his last 22 games. He is quick, explosive, and has the relentless motor to constantly create havoc in the backfield.
Ryan Poles will have two 1st round picks next April. He could easily reserve one of them for Newton. It will depend on where those picks end up. Newton projects to go somewhere in the late top 10 to the mid-teens. Any of those three names would be an immediate boost to the Bears’ defense.
That Gene chick is out of her mind.
@Slip Knotz — Larry Borom is a much better player than most of you guys (that have never played tthe OL, realize). Braxton Jones is also talented. Put the two of them together; and you have a ProBowl OT. That’s impossible to do — but it’s not impossible to coach up both of them — and let the best man win. Look at how well Sam Mustipher and James Daniels are playing under someone other than Bears’ OL coach, Chris Morgan. If (when) Larry Borom leaves — he’ll show similar improvement. Book it! Let me tell you why all this… Read more »
@Hehateme30 — So now, you have a problem with hindsight? (The “Mahomes, Watson and Trubisky” saga is still running around in your head, admit it!) Personally, I was happy that Poles passed on Jalen Carter for the reasons you stated — but neither of us is the “real GM” of the Chicago Bears. The real GM passed on a generational player (possibly he had an inkling that “troubled” DC Alan Williams would have major problems with Carter — who knows?). But faced with the decision to add the best player in the entire 2023 NFL draft, at pick #9 (to… Read more »
Get a proven guy at the 3 Tech in Free Agency. That vastly improves your d-line and there is no guessing if he will be good or not. If we still have picks #2 and #3 you go get Maye and Harrison Jr. It would be absolutely foolish to pass on Harrison Jr. You can’t just look at next year, you have to project 2, 3 – 5 years in the future when you are drafting. When there is someone available to you that is the best WR coming out since Larry Fitzgerald and his dad is a Hall of… Read more »
Poles has to win games next year to keep his job. The fastest way is improving the D-line and QB play. Doubt they can get a top DT via free agency. Go for Newton in the first round with your 2nd #1. I am conflicted about the Bears taking a QB with their highest #1 pick. They have shown an innate inability to pick a starting QB (minus McMahon 40 years ago) much less a franchise QB.