With Chicago Bears training camp right around the corner, we preview the defensive line and if they can have a better year than 2025.
CHICAGO, Ill., — While the Chicago Bears found success a year ago by winning the NFC North and then a playoff game, there were still some concerns. A lot of those were on the defensive side of the football, including the line.
Chicago's defensive line struggled at times last season. They were very poor against the run and struggled to get pressure on the quarterback. With it being a big need, the Bears opted to not spend a lot of money or trade draft capital to acquire a player. Instead, they signed a few veteran free agents and used a sixth-round pick to add another player.
While they lost Andrew Billings, the team will bring back Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter and Shemar Turner who were all on the roster last season. Still, there needs to be some improvement from this unit overall for this defense to find success. But where will that come from?
As training camp is set to open up next week, our position preview is rolling on as we look at the defensive line for this article. Make sure to check back with the Bear Report for complete coverage of training camp over the next month or so from Halas Hall.
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(Photo: David Banks, USA TODAY Sports)
One of the Bears' notable signings in free agency last offseason was the addition of veteran Grady Jarrett. He signed a three-year deal worth $42.75 million with the hopes of making a big impact for Chicago's defensive line.
The first year of that three-year deal was a bit of a struggle for Jarrett as he was being bothered by a nagging knee injury. He suffered that injury in Week 3, and it forced him to miss three games. Even when he returned, it looked like it was still bothering him. Jarrett finished the year with 39 total tackles and 1.5 sacks across 14 games for the season. While it was disappointing, the 2026 season is a new opportunity for Jarrett to have an impact on that line.
With the Bears having concerns about their run defense and getting pressure on the quarterback, having a player like Jarrett have a better season will help. He needs to be a key piece on this defensive line, not only in terms of production but as a veteran leader, too. It's an important season for Jarrett overall.
(Photo: Michael Reaves, Getty)
You might be noticing a common theme with this preview, and like Grady Jarrett, this will be a big season for Gervon Dexter as well. He's entering the fourth and final year of his rookie deal, and being a second-round pick, Dexter is going to have to deliver.
So far in his career, Dexter hasn't been awful, but you haven't seen that big progression in terms of becoming a dominant player. However, Dexter has been productive on the defensive line and finished 2025 with six total sacks, a new career high. There were some big, bright moments for Dexter last season, getting after the quarterback and causing some disruption at times. He finished with 22 total pressures, 11 QB hits, and 26 hurries.
But his run defense needs to get better, which would be a big boost for the Bears' line.
This is going to be an important season for Dexter with his contract as well. This is a chance for him to prove that he can be a key piece of this line moving forward and earn a contract extension. Not only would that be good for Dexter but it would be ideal for the Bears as this line is likely getting a makeover next offseason as well. Dexter will be one of the most important Bears overall this upcoming season.
(Photo: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire, Getty)
Going into the offseason, the defensive line was a need again for the Bears, and they addressed it by adding multiple players in free agency. One of those players was veteran Neville Gallimore, who signed a two-year deal worth $12 million.
The 29-year-old has spent time with Dallas, the Los Angeles Rams and most recently the Indianapolis Colts in his career. His best season came a year ago with the Colts, recording 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and six QB hits. Coming off that season, he earned that multi-year deal with Chicago, and the hope is that he can play to that level or even better.
Gallimore is expected to have a big role on Chicago's defensive line, which will feature a rotation. He likely will be behind Jarrett and Dexter going into training camp but if he can show that he can be good in run defense and getting to the quarterback, he should see an increase in reps. The Bears are certainly hoping that Gallimore could be a free-agent steal that earns another contract down the line.
(Photo: John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears took former Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft with hopes that he could provide a boost to the defensive line for the future. Chicago had plans for Turner to be a staple on that line, potentially moving him around a bit in terms of playing inside or on the edge.
Chicago loved the attitude he played with, having that aggressive mindset.
But Turner's rookie season was cut short when he suffered a torn ACL in the loss to Baltimore in Week 8. He appeared in just five games and recorded six total tackles and two tackles for loss. Now, going into the second season of his career, there are still a lot of the same question marks surrounding him.
Turner should be healthy and ready to go for training camp next week and it's key that he stays healthy. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen hinted that the Bears could try to use him on the edge some and mix him in on the interior of the line as well. For Turner, this is going to be a big training camp as he needs to prove he can stay healthy and that he can be a contributor on this line for years to come.
(Photo: 247Sports)
Another free agent signing, the Bears added James Lynch on a one-year deal this offseason to help bring some depth on the defensive line. The 27-year-old is a former fourth-round pick of Minnesota and is entering year six of his career.
Lynch has spent three years with Minnesota before playing the last two years with the Tennessee Titans. In his five-year career, he has 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and seven QB hits, playing more of a rotational role. That's what is expected here in Chicago, as he will look to earn his roster spot and contribute to the defensive line.
It's not a signing that was going to put the Bears' defensive line over the top by any means but it's one that could help with depth.
Kentavius Street
Another free agent signing, veteran Kentavius Street is looking to make an impact this season for the Bears. The 30-year-old is entering year eight, spending time with the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons. The hope is that Street can come in and play a role with the rotation on the line and help stop the run.
Jordan van den Berg
The Bears drafted Jordan van den Berg in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech. The 24-year-old has a lot of experience at the college level and comes in with a high motor and willingness to learn. It's hard to say if he will make an impact right away or not but he will be someone on my radar to watch at training camp. Van den Berg will have the chance to learn behind some veterans, so there won't be a lot of pressure on him right away.
Jayden Loving
Another rookie entering his first training camp, Jayden Loving signed with the Bears out of Wake Forest. He's a player that a lot of people around the league liked as an undrafted free agent. He spent five seasons in college, and while the size isn't the greatest at the NFL level, the pre-draft testing was very good for Loving. There are some tools to work with in his game, and he's a player who will get the chance to develop.
Will the defensive line improve overall?
This was one of the biggest storylines going into the offseason and while the Bears added multiple new faces to the line, it's no guarantee it will get better. Chicago's line struggled last season to get pressure on the quarterback and stop the run. They finished the 2025 season 28th in the league, allowing 131.4 rush yards per game. That allowed opponents to open up their pass game more as the Bears just couldn't stop the run.
With a tougher schedule this year, the Bears are going to need that defensive line to get better. It doesn't need to be a top five unit by any means but it certainly feels like if they want to have success, there needs to be an improvement of some kind. Will that be a mixture of depth? Or could it be someone taking a big step forward and having a huge season? Maybe both?
Earlier in the offseason, Ben Johnson pointed to coaching and getting better that way. That was directed to Dennis Allen and his staff to get the most out of this unit and to look at their coaching practices.
Time will tell if this line improved or if the Bears will be spending another offseason with it as a big need.
This article originates on BearReport.