The Bears’ pass rush has been one of the weakest in the NFL throughout general manager Ryan Poles’ tenure. With loads of salary-cap space and pressure to win now, he’s taking a big swing at finally getting it right.
Aside from the addition of defensive end Montez Sweat, who cost the Bears a second-round pick and a $98 million contract extension, Poles has mostly tried to solve a major issue with minor pieces. Last season, the three starters on the line other than Sweat were a second-round pick in defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and affordable journeymen in tackle Andrew Billings and end DeMarcus Walker.
Sweat is still the star, but he’ll have a lot better help with the free-agent signings of two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and a potential up-and-comer in defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo — two acquisitions that will cost $91.5 million over the next three seasons.
Within that blueprint Poles is betting on Jarrett playing at a high level well into his 30s, Odeyingbo making a leap and Sweat capitalizing on their impact. He’s hoping the collective talent makes the individual pieces better.
“We all watched the Super Bowl — you want to have waves of pass rushers,” Poles said Thursday, referring to the Eagles’ front dominating the Chiefs. “So if all of those guys are getting better and they’re working together, I really think we can affect the passer.”
And it’s possible Poles will pile on at defensive tackle or end in the draft, when the Bears will have the Nos. 10, 39 and 41 overall picks.
“You can’t have enough pass rushers,” Poles said. “We’re always looking to add and improve that group. But I feel good about where we are today.”
A strong pass rush is essential, and it’s the most important part of a roster other than quarterback. Poles began his time with the Bears by trading future Hall of Famer Khalil Mack for cap relief and draft capital, and since then, the team has had a league-low 90 sacks over the last three seasons and hasn’t had a player get more than six in a season.
While Jarrett earned his three-year, $43.5 million deal off a decade of excellence with the Falcons, including elite pass-rushing prowess at that position, the Bears are paying Odeyingbo $48 million over three seasons on a projection at 25 of what he’ll become as he enters his prime.
In his first four seasons, all with the Colts after they drafted him in the second round out of Vanderbilt, he had 16 1/2 sacks in 61 games. He didn’t solidify a starting job until last season.
In Odeyingbo’s case, the Bears are paying him based on a projection of what they see him becoming as he hits his prime. Poles insisted that “if you watch the tape, you’ll understand how disruptive he can be” rushing from the outside or from the middle and expects it will prove to be an example of cohesion between the front office’s vision and coach Ben Johnson’s staff’s ability to develop players.
“Anyone who’s around football knows that a d-lineman’s job is a lot bigger than just the sack number,” Odeyingbo said. “But yeah, I definitely want to see my sack numbers increase and that just comes with growth and sticking to the plan.”
It also comes from playing alongside top talent.
“To be able to play with great defensive linemen, you only get better,” Odeyingbo said.
Even with the guesswork, this is the biggest investment Poles has made in the defensive line. The Bears will be spending more than they ever have on the four starters, and Odeyingbo is a better bet than hoping for the best from Yannick Ngakoue and Robert Quinn late in their careers. It’s not a perfect plan, but it has a realistic shot at turning around one of the roster’s most concerning flaws.