As March continues and all 32 NFL franchises look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears will have four picks in the top 100, including two in the second round, providing the front office with plenty of opportunities to add long-term building blocks on defense who fit Dennis Allen's scheme.
Despite adding linebackers Devin Bush and Jack Sanborn in free agency, the uncertainty surrounding T.J. Edwards injury means the front office could choose to spend one of the Bears top 100 draft selections on a linebacker to pair with Bush. One name that could be a potential fit is Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Kyle Louis.
Let's get into our scouting report on Louis.
Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh, (6-foot-0, 220 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Undersized linebacker/box safety who had more production and made fewer mental mistakes in 2024. Louis has the speed, athleticism and recognition to quickly find the football. Whether in lurker mode from zone or clinging to the route in man, he's very decisive in coverage and has the ball skills to flip the field. He struggles to take on blocks and leverage his gap in the run game. He often catches contact and becomes a drag-down tackler near the line and in space. Teams need to have a plan for how to use him, but versatile sub-package defenders with speed and cover talent are valuable in the league."
Film:
Strengths:
- Processes and makes decisions quickly.
- Instincts show up on tape with every play.
- Loose hips allow him to change direction with ease.
- Speed and explosiveness show up on film as a player who sees plays before they actually develop.
- Coverage abilities are evident as the type of player who never looses ground to receivers.
- Refined tackling technique that's picture perfect on almost every play.
- Can line up anywhere and provide instant value.
Weaknesses:
- Struggles when taking on blocks against bigger, faster, and stronger offensive linemen.
- Has to add more strength to his frame if he's going to take another step forward in his development.
- 2025 film shows a player who takes himself out of the play when he can't shed blocks.
- Film from 2024 is more of a true sample size of what he can do. The 2025 season proved that he isn't a perfect prospect and may need to move to weakside linebacker in the NFL.
Does Louis fit the Bears defense?
Yes and no. If the Bears plan on having Louis play middle linebacker, his speed will be his greatest asset but his ability to shoot gaps won't. If Chicago plans on moving him to weakside linebacker, he could find a way to excel quickly, showcasing his true versatility in the process. He does absorb contact at a high level but needs to improve when engaging and disengaging offensive linemen, fighting them off in the process.
Conclusion:
Louis' film shows a player who is a clear athlete and can operate when the defensive line in front of him is always humming and can consistently generate pressure. His speed and versatility make him the type of player who's impact will be noticeable in games but he may never develop into an elite talent at his position.
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