The Chicago Bears are looking to upgrade the trenches this offseason during the 2026 NFL Draft. While the offensive line is a position that cannot be ignored, the defensive line is a bigger need.
With the 25th pick, the Bears are going to miss a few of the top players like David Bailey, Arvell Reese, and likely Ruben Bain Jr. as well. But, they should still have a few intriguing options at edge rusher with their first-round pick.
ESPN's Matt Miller also supported the idea that the Bears are eyeing pass rusher help, and he focused on one player who is popular among those in Chicago, implying that this player, Missouri's Zion Young, is a very possible option at 25th overall.
Bears linked to Zion Young as 'popular name' in Chicago
"... I feel less confident in the individual player this time around but would bet No. 25 is used on a defensive lineman," Miller writes. "Zion Young (Missouri) is a popular name in Chicago, from what I've heard."
This is a noteworthy report from Miller, in that the Bears seem to be eyeing up Young as their possible first-round pick.
This would make sense, as Young is a good scheme fit for the Bears' defense under Dennis Allen, and also is very possibly making it to the 25th pick.
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The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Senior defensive end is coming off a solid year for Missouri, where he had 6.5 sacks and 42 total tackles, with 20 being solo, along with two forced fumbles.
He's 22 years old, and while he might not be the super-athlete that some other pass rushers are, he's the kind of player that would be a nice fit opposite Montez Sweat, who could be an every-down edge player.
Young is a solid pass rusher, but he can also hold his own in the run game as well. Bears fans should get familiar with Young, as many mock drafts have had these two lined up, and now, with less than two weeks until the draft, the link is getting even stronger.
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