An Overview of the Chicago Bears Defense
For a team with a long tradition of playing great defense, the Bears have been through some rough times recently. Except for one very important statistic, the 2025 defense bore zero resemblance to the famed Monsters of the Midway. The pass defense was leaky, tying for 26th in completion percentage and 22nd in yards. There was not much help from a pass rush that ranked 22nd, either. The run defense was even worse, finishing 27th in yards and 29th in yards per carry. The team's saving grace that helped them get to the postseason was takeaways. Chicago led the league in interceptions with 23 and total takeaways with 33.
Following such a season, it comes as no surprise that the organization made wholesale personnel changes. The shocker is that the team parted ways with five starters who combined for 19 of those interceptions. Kevin Byard III (7), Nashon Wright (5), Tremaine Edmunds (4), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2), and Jaquan Brisker (1) will all be wearing different uniforms this season.
The Bears added a slew of veterans in free agency, but only two, linebacker Devin Bush and safety Coby Bryant, project as week-one starters. They used a first-round pick on safety Dillon Thieneman, but didn't come back to the defense again until day three.
There will be some help from within, as starters Dayo Odeyingbo (edge), Kyler Gordon (nickel), T.J. Edwards (linebacker), and last year's second-round pick, Shemar Turner (tackle), should all be back in action. The shakeup could be just what this group needs, as the personnel may be a better fit for Dennis Allen's scheme entering his second year. On paper, however, it is hard to see where this defense has improved.
Chicago Bears Defensive Linemen
No one was happier with last year's hiring of Dennis Allen than Montez Sweat. Except for an injury-shortened 2021, the 2019 first-round pick of the Commanders tallied at least seven sacks in each of his first four seasons. He was traded to the Bears during the 2023 campaign, which happens to be Sweat's best statistical output to date. After going 38-19-12.5 with 3 forced fumbles, 4 batted passes, and the second top twelve of his career in 2023, he all but vanished the following season, producing a dismal 18-14-5.
The scheme change freed Sweat to be more aggressive. Despite a less-than-stellar supporting cast, he rebounded strongly with 53 stops, double-digit sacks, 5 batted passes, and a career-best 4 turnovers. Those numbers added up to his second top 10 in three seasons. There remains some concern based on the horrible 2024 sandwiched between them, but it feels like Sweat may finally be in a great place.
The organization was counting on Dayo Odeyingbo to be the guy who kept blocking schemes honest and took pressure off Sweat. It didn't exactly work out that way. Odeyingbo opened with a week one sack, then went into hibernation. His season ended with an Achilles injury in week nine.
A second-round pick of the Colts in 2021, Odeyingbo was considered a first-round talent on a lot of draft boards. He flashed in 2023, going 22-16-8 with 4 turnovers on 622 snaps. When an injury to Samson Ebukam provided the opportunity to start in 2024, instead of stepping up, Odeyingbo flopped with a disappointing 13-18-3 and a couple of forced fumbles on 745 plays. The Bears have not yet given up on him, but maybe they should have. He is penciled in as a starter entering camp. It would not be a surprise if he were erased before week one.
Odeyingbo's injury opened the door for 2024 fifth-round pick Austin Booker, who took advantage of the opportunity. He finished out the season as the starter, logging 491 snaps. At 19-16-4.5 with a forced fumble and 3 batted passes, Booker's numbers were not eye-catching, but they were good enough to make him a top 20 edge defender after week ten. Even more intriguing is the hot streak that Booker ended the season on. Between weeks 14 and 18, he totaled 23 stops, 3.5 sacks, and 3 batted passes, making him the number seven edge for the month of December.
It was a small but impressive sample from the young man. Many within the organization do not believe it was a mirage. Booker may enter camp as a backup, but don't be surprised if he is a productive starter come Week 1.
I wrote this in last year's Bears report. It is worth revisiting. Maybe the Bears know something we don't about Booker, who was a fifth-round pick by the team last year. NFL.com draft guru Lance Zierlein seemed to think so. Zierlein gave him a third-round grade with an NFL comparison to Maxx Crosby. It's not hard to see where Zierlein draws his comparison. Like a young Crosby, Booker is tall and lanky at six-four and a half and 240 pounds, with a frame to add muscle and a huge wingspan.
Dennis Allen likes his interior line to penetrate and disrupt. Grady Jarrett has been doing just that for a long time. In ten years with the Falcons, he amassed 37.5 sacks, putting up at least 6 in three of those seasons. Unfortunately, the most recent was way back in 2022. He was once a quality option for us at a thin position. At age 33, it seems that ship may have sailed.
We know what to expect from Jarrett. His contributions on the field are likely to outshine the numbers. It is Gervon Dexter Sr who provides the most fantasy potential. At six feet six and 312 pounds, he creates problems for offenses. Quarterbacks can't throw over him, and blockers have a hard time moving him. Even in a less IDP-friendly two-gap system, the 2023 second-round pick managed 51 stops, 5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles to finish 16th at the position in 2024.
Going into last season, I thought the new scheme might turn him into a star. That has not happened yet, but Gervon did have similar production. With 44 combined stops, 6 sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles, he landed at DT22. Gervon is young, turning 25 in October, and has a lot of football ahead of him. That breakout may still be coming. At worst, he should make a steady DT2 for us.
Last year's second-round pick, Shemar Turner, could be the heir apparent to Jarrett. Turner is a versatile, active tackle with a strong, violent playing style. He is a one-gap penetrator with a relentless motor and the potential to be a future standout. Now that he is healthy, Turner's quickness, strength, and ability to play multiple positions along the defensive line make him a strong candidate to be the third man in the inside rotation in his second season.
Just in case Turner doesn't step up, the Bears signed veteran Neville Gallimore to provide depth. Gallimore made some starts for the Colts in recent years and is a dependable option. He should see time in the rotation, but holds marginal value even if moved into a bigger role.
Edge Montez Sweat – Solid ED1 with a little risk
Edge Dayo Odeyingbo – Make-or-break season
Edge Austin Booker – Sleeper with considerable upside
Edge Jeremiah Martin – No impact expected
Edge Daniel Hardy – No impact
DT Gervon Dexter Sr. - Decent DT2 with some upside
DT Grady Jarrett – Marginal value
DT Neville Gallimore – No impact expected
DT Shemar Turner – Darkhorse sleeper
DT Jordan van den Berg – Developmental rookie