With April officially here, the 2026 NFL Draft is just weeks away as teams begin finalizing evaluations for the NFL's most important week of the offseason. With four picks inside the top 100, 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.
After not adding an edge rusher in free agency, the Bears could use one of their top-100 selections on an edge rusher to pair with veteran Montez Sweat and third-year player Austin Booker. One name who should really intrigue Chicago is Tennessee Volunteers edge rusher Joshua Josephs.
Let's get into our scouting report on Josephs.
Joshua Josephs, Tennessee, (6-foot-3, 242 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Long, upright edge defender with an NBA-caliber wingspan and room to continue filling out his frame. Josephs uses his arms to stay separated from blocks and spill runs wide. However, he needs to get bigger and stronger to better support the run against NFL blocking. He has long strides and plus closing burst to chase and capture. His pass rush is the same on every snap, showing good burst and effort but a predictable track that is slowed by force. He's not a natural bender, so adding go-to moves, a functional inside counter and better rush plans will be essential. With added weight and continued schooling, Josephs could deliver much more consistent production than he's provided so far."
Film:
Strengths:
- Explosiveness when the ball is snapped is his best trait.
- Long arms are prevalent on tape.
- Excellent run defender who is able to set a hard edge and shoot gaps.
- Improved every year in college. His pass rush moves in 2025 were noticeably better compared to 2024.
- Knows how to use his arms to generate additional pressure.
- Has the ability to shed blocks with ease.
Weaknesses:
- Lacks the ability to convert speed to power.
- Unable to mirror his hands and feet when rushing the passer.
- Will need to add a bit more strength to his frame to really become an impact player at the next level.
- Vulnerable to getting washed down the line of scrimmage in the C-Gap with in-line tight ends.
- Has to play with more discipline as a tackler.
Does Josephs fit the Bears defense?
At first glance, Josephs measurables should intrigue the Bears, especially given the physicality and speed he tends to play with. But the issue is that he doesn't have the discipline needed, especially as a tackler, to warrant being graded out higher than a late day two, early day three pick. The Bears will covet his arm length and speed off the edge, but he's far from a finished product and may never develop into an impact player at his position.
Conclusion:
Overall, Josephs will be the type of player who is able to generate consistent pressure when rushing opposing quarterbacks, but unless he cleans up his tackling technique, he may not be able to become an every down defender.
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