The Chicago Bears have a big question on defense. They tied for the ninth-most sacks and had the sixth-best pressure rate in 2024, per Pro Football Reference, but their pass rush was generally a weakness and remains a question mark heading into training camp later this month.
Whether or not they did enough to address the issue this spring could be answered early on, with the Minnesota Vikings visiting for Monday Night Football.
Bears’ Pass Rush Remains Big Question Mark Ahead of Training Camp
The Bears spent the eighth-most cap dollars in free agency this offseason, per Spotrac, including a total $90.7 million combined on defensive linemen Dayo Odeyingbo from the Indianapolis Colts and Grady Jarrett from the Atlanta Falcons. It was part of their latest strong offseason cycle. Their last yielded a 5-12 season in 2024.
The Bears hope this crop of additions will provide the boost they need alongside Gervon Dexter Sr., who could play behind Andrew Billings on early downs and in obvious run situations, and Montez Sweat.
Jarret and are coming off down seasons in different ways.
Jarrett’s 2.5 sacks in 2024 were a step up from his 1.5 in eight games in 2023, but still well off his career-best 7.5 sacks in 2019 or even his 6.0-sack effort in 2022. Pro Football Focus graded him a 60.0 in pass rush last season, the worst mark of his career.
However, he is just one season removed from logging six straight campaigns of grading out with at least a 67.2 score.
Similarly, Odeyingbo’s 3.0 sacks in 2024 were a step down from his 8.0 in 2023.
He also had 5.0 sacks in 2022, and provides outside-inside versatility that could provide playing time on the edge for speedy teammates Austin Booker, a fifth-round pick in 2024, and Daniel Hardy.
Dexter is also coming off a 5.0-sack campaign and figures to be more explosive, given the improved depth on the interior.
The question remains whether or not the Bears can generate consistent pressure off the edge.
Free Agency Rife With Aging Veterans
The Bears are light on options beyond a pool of aging veterans that includes Jadeveon Clowney, Matt Judon, and Von Miller. Former Bear DeMarcus Walker, who is more of a tweener like Odeyingbo, also remains available.
The Bears could be holding out hope that the Pittsburgh Steelers change their mind and make T.J. Watt (or maybe Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals) available for trade.
Those scenarios would get expensive fast.
Sweat had a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2023, but he logged 6.5 sacks before the Bears acquired him in a trade from the Washington Commanders. Sweat’s previous career-high was 9.0 sacks in 2020, and he had 8.0 sacks in 2022.
The Bears selected versatile defensive lineman Shemar Turner in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he figures to help more on the interior than the edge as well.
If nothing changes, the Bears are banking on group effort over having a dominant rusher.