INDIANAPOLIS — Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson can see things through the quarterback’s eyes. He played the position. He calls plays for it. He knows what can make life difficult for a signal caller.
“As an offensive guy, I look at defensive players, and if it’s an issue for me to game plan against, then absolutely we would love to have them on our roster as a defensive player to go after our opponents,” Johnson said from the combine.
The understandable focus of the player acquisition period for the Bears is on the offensive line, where they could add three new starters, but they also should be thinking about serious resources to use on helping Montez Sweat and the pass rush.
That doesn’t have to be done only in free agency. Consider the way general manager Ryan Poles responded to a hypothetical about not needing to draft a defensive lineman high if they sign a high-caliber one.
“I would probably argue and say if you get a good pass rusher and you draft a pass rusher, you can’t have enough good ones,” he said. “I think we all watched that last game of the season and that proves to be true.”
In that “last game,” Poles watched his former Chiefs team be unable to contain the Eagles’ pass rush. Assistant GM Ian Cunningham was part of the Philadelphia front office, and Johnson saw what the addition of Aidan Hutchinson meant to Detroit’s defensive line.
And then there’s new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, whose defense is predicated on aggressive man defense in the secondary — which gets helped by a great pass rush.
“Talking to DA has been very enlightening because we share the same mindset when it comes to defensive football, which is we want to affect the passer,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of ways to do that. Certainly up front, the pass rush is the primary thing you think of but also on the back end, it’s challenging the receivers and disrupting the timing.
“So when we look at guys that are available, absolutely we want to upgrade the pass rush, and we also want on the back end to come up and lock down receivers, as well. So, it’s the fine balance and marriage between the rush and coverage that we are looking to augment.”
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Poles alluded to the strengths of the draft matching the Bears’ needs a few times during his session with reporters Tuesday. The defensive line would be in that conversation. After releasing DeMarcus Walker, there’s an even steeper drop-off after Sweat. The interior line brings back its players, but not necessarily a dominant pass rusher. Gervon Dexter had a very good second season, leading the team with 19 QB hits.
“You really need someone to really puncture the pocket from the interior for the exterior to be successful and productive, as well,” Poles said. “So it’s that balance of the two.”
Among Dane Brugler’s top 50 prospects, nearly one-third are on the defensive line — 10 edge rushers and six defensive tackles. Talking to coaches around the league, the class is considered one of the best in recent years.
When Allen spoke with reporters last month, he talked about being an “attacking, aggressive-style defense,” like most defensive coordinators would say. That starts up front.
“This has become a quarterback-driven league. I mean, that’s what this league is, so I think everything that we do is going to be based on how do we affect the quarterback. You affect the quarterback through rush and coverage, and that’s the pinnacle of what team defense is all about,” he said. “So we can be as great as we want to be covering everybody, but if we can’t rush the passer, it’s not going to matter and vice versa.”
When Allen was in New Orleans from 2015 to ’24 as a defensive coordinator and then head coach, the Saints were active in drafting defensive linemen. At both positions, the Saints appeared to favor prospects with strong measurables using RAS (relative athletic score).
Saints DE draft picks 2015-24
Saints DT draft picks 2015-24
The Bears already have players who scored well athletically — Poles drafted Dexter and Zacch Pickens, who both scored in the 90th percentile at their positions. Poles has favored players with strong athletic traits.
Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Georgia’s Jalon Walker are the top defensive ends, unlikely to be available for the Bears with the 10th pick in the first round. Michigan’s Mason Graham is the top defensive tackle and Brugler’s fourth-ranked player.
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Then there’s Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, who would certainly fit Allen’s preference for long athletes. He measured in at 6 foot 5, 267 pounds with 34 1/8-inch arms. Stewart didn’t have great production in college, which is the knock on him.
“I wasn’t a sack-chasing warrior,” Stewart told reporters at the combine. “I just wanted to become the best player for my team. And sometimes the stats don’t show that. Definitely trying to get more comfortable and get after the quarterback — trying to run through the tackle instead of maybe trying to reach out, lunging for a tackle.”
Stewart, who starred at the Senior Bowl, is Brugler’s ninth-ranked player. He said he models his game after former Bears defensive end Julius Peppers.
“I was scrolling through YouTube one day watching some of the NFL guys, and I saw him and went, ‘Man, he kind of looks like me,’” Stewart said. “Same weight and everything. He’s explosive, strong and powerful. He just made plays. I think he got the most interceptions I’ve ever seen from a D-lineman.”
Stewart’s 40-inch vertical is one of the best ever at the combine for a defensive end. He had a top-five broad jump at his position over the past decade.
Shemar Stewart…. 10’11” broad jump. At his size??? pic.twitter.com/AdBJpoGKqn
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) February 27, 2025
Based on his conversation with the media, Stewart also seems to have a personality that fits what the Bears need. For example, would Stewart remember the edge rushers taken before him?
“Oh, yeah, of course,” he said. “I’m going to give — if you don’t pick me, just know I’m bringing hell to your city.”
Right after Stewart (among edge rushers) on the “Big Board” is Marshall’s Mike Green, another player who impressed teams at the Senior Bowl. His combine media appearance focused on sexual assault allegations against Green in high school and in college. He discussed those with teams at the Senior Bowl and is still considered a first-round pick.
“I would probably say this is one of the deepest D-line classes,” Green said. “I’m excited to be here with all these great guys. I think what sets me apart is my pass-rushing ability. I’m also good in the run defense. I’ve just got a lot of tools in my bag when it comes down to moves that I can do and how I can defend the run.”
Green led the country with 17 sacks, but at 6-3 1/8, 251 pounds with 32-inch arms, he’s considered somewhat undersized.
“I know sometimes undersized guys sometimes have trouble setting the edge and things like that. I’m just out here and I’ve been proving to myself and other people that I can do things such as setting the edge, and I can do things such as power rushing and things like that. It might be a little talk out there about me not being able to do certain things, but when you turn on the film and watch all 700 plays, you’ll see sparks and highlights of the way I play,” he said.
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The depth of the D-line class should offer Poles, Allen and Johnson opportunities to get starters in rounds 2 and 3, as well, if they go offensive line at No. 10.
Other mid-round edge rushers to monitor based on their height/weight include JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State), Jack Sawyer (Ohio State), Landon Jackson (Arkansas), Jordan Burch (Oregon), Nic Scourton (Texas A&M) and Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss). At defensive tackle, a few of Brugler’s prospects for rounds 2-3 are Alfred Collins (Texas), Shemar Turner (Texas A&M), T.J. Sanders (South Carolina) and Deone Walker (Kentucky).
Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander — 6-3 7/8, 305 pounds with 34-inch arms — was another Senior Bowl standout. He’s hoping his versatility sets him apart in a loaded class.
“I play everything on the D-line,” he said. “I don’t play just one spot. I’m a game wrecker, and I just love to show my skill off.”
The Bears will have options to upgrade the unit in free agency — Chase Young is a candidate, as he played for Allen in New Orleans. They could also take a big swing in the trade market. But as Poles said, you can’t have enough pass rushers, and the draft will provide opportunities to build up the defensive line.
(Photo of Shemar Stewart: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
