The Bears entered the 2026 draft with a major pass rushing need, and ourmock draft predicted Chicago would address that need in the first round. However, the team did not useany of their seven picks on a pass rusher, so asAlbert Breer of SI.com writes, it would not be surprising to see the Bears fortify their**Montez Sweat**-fronted EDGE contingent with a veteran at some point in the near future.
There are still a number of recognizable names on the market, including players like**Jadeveon Clowney,Cameron Jordan,Joey Bosa,Von Miller, andHaason Reddick. We recently heard Clowney isdrawing interest, though it is presently unclear which teams are considering him. As Breer observes, Clowney fits the mold of the long, rugged pass rusher that Bears defensive coordinatorDennis Allen** favors, and Jordan and Allen spent a number of years together with the Saints. Either of those players could be a fit for Chicago, even if (as Breer suggests) such a deal might not come together until we get closer to training camp.
Meanwhile, the team will continue to evaluate**Dayo Odeyingbo, whose first season with the Bears was cut short by atorn Achilles. Through eight games in 2025, the former Colt recorded just one sack, and 2024 fifth-rounderAustin Booker** – another key piece of Chicago’s pass rushing plans last season – missed time due to injury as well. Booker ultimately posted 4.5 sacks in 10 games, and the Bears tallied the fifth-fewest sacks in the league.
That led to the speculation that GMRyan Poles would add a true pass rushing talent this offseason, but that has not happened yet (although Poles did at leastexplore the possibility of acquiring**Maxx Crosby** from the Raiders). Despite winning the NFC North and narrowly missing a trip to the NFC championship game in 2025, the Bears finished in the bottom-10 in terms of both total defense and scoring defense, so an established EDGE player or two would surely help spur another deep postseason run.
Poles did authorize eight-figure contracts for safety**Coby Bryant** and defensive tackle**Neville Gallimore** in free agency, and he further fortified those positions in the draft with S**Dillon Thieneman** (No. 25 overall) and DT Jordan van den Berg (No. 213). According toESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bears believe they got a steal in both players, as they did not expect Thienemen to fall to them and think van den Berg was one of the most talented DTs in his class (his sixth-round status notwithstanding).
Fowler says Chicago was also interested in cornerback**Colton Hood**, whom the Giants selected with the No. 37 choice. If Thienemen was unavailable, as the Bears thought he would be, Hood may have been the selection at No. 25.