INDIANAPOLIS – The Bears need to elevate their pass rush. There’s little doubt about that following a season where they finished with a middle-of-the-road 40 sacks last season. They generated decent amounts of quarterback pressure but didn’t get home enough, without an intimidator opposite Montez Sweat.

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That left the highly-paid defensive end to deal with double-teams and chips that, along with some injury issues, resulted in a below-expectation 5.5 sacks in 2024. He ranked high in pressures, but all those delays we talked about hindered his true impact. Adding another tough pass-rusher seems essential this offseason, in addition to some quality depth with DeMarcus Walker recently released.  

That ranks the defensive end/edge rusher spot high on the Bears’ needs, even if it’s behind three vacancies along the interior offensive lines.

The Bears have the assets required to supplement the position group, with an estimated $79 million in salary-cap space and three NFL draft picks in the top 41.

How to acquire that talent requires some strategic thinking and a proper evaluation of the landscape. Defensive line depth is high in this year’s draft, and there’s some premium talent available in free agency starting March 12.

“I would argue and say, if you have a good pass rusher in free agency and draft a good pass rusher you can’t have enough good ones,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said in a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think we all watched that in the (Super Bowl) and that proves to be true. You want to see how you can put the puzzle together where you can fill all the needs perfectly. Sometimes that works out, sometime that doesn’t.”

Poles and Johnson have said that the supply in the draft and in free agency generally meets their roster demands. That includes the holes along the defensive front. The Bears need pass rushers coming in waves, from the inside and the exterior. They have some quality in Sweat, nose tackle Andrew Billings and three-technique Gervon Dexter, with some younger depth inside and out.

Poles knows he needs more across the defensive front as is his approach to adding to that group.

“I would say it’s been consistent,” Poles said. “You really need someone to puncture the pocket from the interior for the exterior to be successful and productive as well. It’s that balance of the two.”

It sure seems like the Bears need a bigger name in free agency or the draft, whether it’s Josh Sweat, New Orleans’ Chase Young, Las Vegas’ Malcolm Koonce or even a veteran like Dallas’ DeMarcus Lawrence. That’s not an inspiring list of veteran edge rushers outside Sweat, to be honest.

Penn State’s Abdul Carter will be long gone when the Bears pick at No. 10 overall. Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham won’t be around, either. Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams could be intriguing first-round options off the edge. Marshall’s Mike Green, too, even from a smaller school.

Williams said that he had met with the Bears and would be excited at the prospect.

“It’d be amazing to play for the Bears,” Williams said. “I love their coaching staff and general manager Ryan Poles. I’d love to play for the Bears.”

Williams’ traits and talent is impressive even though his stat sheet won’t wow you. Walker has played everywhere and is a versatile talent, but maybe not a true end. Green is smaller that usual for a true 4-3 end, but they’re all intriguing talents.

They could get a good one in the second round as well, thanks to depth at the position. Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton, Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau or Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku could be options early on Day 2.

Despite some decent options at the position, head coach Ben Johnson cautioned against the assumption that the Bears need to go big opposite Sweat to create an effective pass rush.

“If you don’t have that star power, that’s okay,” Johnson said on Tuesday. “You can still be an effective unit. We want as many playmakers and stars as we possibly can. But at the same time, we know that complimentary football wins in this league. We know that 11 guys playing as one also wins in this league.”