DT Domonique Orange
Getty
DT Domonique Orange
TheChicago Bears scheduled a30 visit with Domonique Orange because they need a young defensive tackle who can control the middle of the line of scrimmage.
Orange, the Iowa State Cyclones football nose tackle known as “Big Citrus”, does that as well as any defensive tackle projected in his draft range.
After missing the combine with a quad injury, Orange finally worked out for scouts and posted:
31.5” vertical
27 bench reps
5.15 forty (pulled up late)
Elite 10 yard split
4.65 short shuttle
For a player widely projected as a mid-round pick, that workout forced a re-evaluation.
Why this visit matters for Chicago
DT Domonique Orange
GettyDT Domonique Orange
The Chicago Bears aren’t alone in bringing in Domonique Orange for a visit. TheBuffalo Bills,Houston Texans Minnesota Vikings, andCarolina Panthers among others are also hosting Orange. But for Chicago, this is different.
This is about what the defensive line looked like in 2025, and what it didn’t. It’s also about finding the player who can line up next toGervon Dexter for the next four years. And this is about the uncomfortable reality ofGrady Jarrett…
Jarrett is a respected leader. He is not the same player. The Bears know they need to get younger, heavier, and more violent at the point of attack inside. Orange is exactly that profile.
Pair Orange with Dexter, and suddenly Chicago has two young interior pieces who can grow together instead of patching the middle with veterans.
Orange had modest production at Iowa State Cyclones football because that wasn’t his job in Jon Heacock’s scheme. He lined up directly over the center and muddied the middle so everyone else could make plays.
That job translates cleanly to the NFL, especially for a defense that struggled to control the run inside last season.
Analyst Lance Zierlein’s evaluation says it plainly: “Orange is a sturdy nose tackle capable of muddying the middle of the field with his first-step quickness and take-on power. His reaction time makes it hard to reach-block him in zone and he has the anchor to play landlord over the A-gaps against double-teams. He gets bounced around on contact but is excellent in recovery and winning the final phase of the rep. Orange is a non-factor as a pass rusher, but his value versus the run should attract teams.”
Why this is a classic draft value spot
DT Domonique Orange
GettyDT Domonique Orange
Domonique Orange isn’t primary a pass rusher and he’s not flashy… Which is exactly why the draft process tends to push players like this down boards when they miss the combine spotlight. But defenses don’t function without this archetype.
A one-technique who can anchor, reset the line of scrimmage, and let linebackers play clean is foundational football. Orange does that at a high level when his conditioning is right, and people are saying he trimmed down to the 320s and took nutrition seriously in 2025.
The quad injury hid that progress from the national spotlight. The Bears got to see it up close.
If the Chicago Bears are serious about getting younger, tougher, and more athletic at DT, Domonique Orange is exactly the kind of move that starts that shift.