• 2 days ago
Where Ryan Poles absolutely must find a Bears edge rusher and why
https://youtu.be/m-0tRDEkJwI

The Chicago Bears’ defense has taken major strides, but one glaring hole remains—an elite edge rusher. Ryan Poles must address this issue if the team hopes to dominate in 2025. Whether through free agency, a blockbuster trade, or the NFL Draft, securing a game-changing pass rusher is critical to taking the defense to the next level. Who should the Bears target, and how will this impact their Super Bowl hopes? Let’s break it all down!
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Transcript
00:00The Chicago Bears are at a crossroads. The pieces are falling into place, the defense has its
00:04cornerstone in Montez Sweat, but let's be real, one elite pass rusher isn't enough. If Ryan Poles
00:11wants this team to contend, he has to find a second edge rusher, and he has to do it now.
00:19The Bears have made strides in building a competitive roster,
00:23but no championship-caliber defense survives without a dominant pass rush.
00:28This is a team that wants to be aggressive, wants to be physical,
00:32and wants to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. And right now,
00:38they don't have enough firepower to do that. Montez Sweat has been a game changer since
00:43arriving in Chicago. He's a disruptor, a guy who commands double teams and the kind of pass
00:48rusher who makes everyone else around him better. But as dominant as he's been, he can't do it
00:55alone. Teams are game-planning for him, sliding protection his way, and daring the Bears to beat
01:01them with someone else. And that's where the problem starts. The Bears don't have that
01:06someone else. They've tried different options. Last season, they brought in Yannick Nikoui,
01:11hoping he'd provide a consistent presence on the opposite side of Sweat. But injuries slowed him
01:16down, and he never became the impact player the Bears needed. The result? A defense that was
01:20inconsistent in getting to the quarterback, a defense that gave opposing QBs too much time
01:24in the pocket, and a defense that struggled in key moments because they couldn't close the deal
01:30with sacks. Look around the league, and you'll see a clear trend. The best teams don't just have
01:34one great pass rusher. They have two, sometimes even three. The Dallas Cowboys have Micah Parsons
01:40and Demarcus Lawrence. The 49ers have Nick Bosa and Chase Young. The Eagles have Hyson Reddick
01:46and Josh Sweat. The Bears? They have Montez Sweat and a whole lot of question marks. That has to
01:53change. So, what are the options? How can the Bears find the missing piece that takes this
01:58defense to the next level? Reagency is one path, and right away, one name jumps out. Khalil Mack.
02:05Yeah, Bears fans know him well. He was a dominant force in Chicago before they traded him away,
02:10and now he's back on the market. But is a reunion really the best move? Mack is still productive,
02:16no doubt about it. He had a strong season last year, showing he still has plenty left in the
02:20tank. But he's 34 years old. He's not a long-term solution, and his price tag is going to be
02:26massive. If the Bears are already paying Montez Sweat over $24 million per year,
02:31does it really make sense to drop another $20 million on Mack? That's a tough sell.
02:37Instead, the Bears might be better off looking at younger, more affordable options in free agency.
02:42Josh Ucci from New England is an intriguing name. He's got speed, explosiveness, and upside.
02:47He's not a finished product yet, but he's young enough to grow into a more complete player.
02:51Another option? Daryl Taylor. And guess what? The Bears already made a move for him.
02:56Ryan Poles traded a sixth-round pick to Seattle to bring in Taylor, and that's a sneaky good move.
03:01He's got 21.5 sacks in three years, and while he's not an elite player yet, he's got the tools
03:10to be a very solid contributor. But one signing isn't enough. The Bears need more. And that brings
03:15us to the NFL draft. This year's draft class is loaded with pass-rushing talent. The Bears
03:21hold the 10th overall pick, and they have to seriously consider using it on an edge rusher.
03:27One name that keeps coming up is Mikel Williams from Georgia. This dude is a beast. He's got the
03:32size, the strength, and the athleticism to be an immediate impact player. He's the kind of guy who
03:38can develop into a cornerstone pass rusher for the next decade. If the Bears want to solve this
03:43problem for the long haul, drafting Williams would be a huge step in the right direction.
03:48And if they decide to go offensive line in round one, that's fine because there's still plenty of
03:54edge-rushing talent in round two. Braylon Trice from Washington is a name to watch.
04:00He's got a relentless motor, and he's the kind of player who just finds ways to get to the
04:06quarterback. Ades Isaac from Penn State is another option. He's a little raw, but he's got the
04:12physical tools to develop into a major contributor. Here's the thing. Ryan Poles has to break an old
04:18habit. The Bears have not prioritized edge rushers in the draft. Since 2014, the only one they've
04:26taken in the first four rounds? Leonard Floyd. That's it. And Floyd didn't even hit his prime
04:32until after he left Chicago. The Bears can't keep making that mistake. They need to invest
04:38in young, talented pass rushers. The best teams in the league build through the draft,
04:43and this is the perfect opportunity for Poles to make sure the Bears aren't left behind.
04:48This is a critical offseason. The Bears have a real chance to make a leap,
04:52but they can't afford to ignore the pass rush. Montez Sweat is a great start, but he needs help.
04:58Whether it's through free agency, a trade, or the draft, Ryan Poles has to find a second
05:04edge rusher, because if he doesn't, the Bears will be stuck in the same cycle.
05:09Flashes of promise, but not enough firepower to truly compete.
05:14The impact of a great pass rush goes beyond just sacks. It changes everything. A dominant
05:21edge duo makes life easier for the secondary. It forces quarterbacks into bad decisions. It
05:26shuts down running lanes. It tilts the field. When you have two legit pass rushers, it's a
05:32nightmare for offenses. Just look at the teams that have made deep playoff runs in recent years.
05:37They all have elite pass rushers. If the Bears want to join that conversation, they need to act
05:42now. So what's the best move? Should the Bears go all-in on a free agent? Should they draft
05:47an edge rusher early? Or should they double dip and do both? Bears fans, let me know what you
05:53think. Drop your thoughts in the comments. Who do you want to see rushing the passer opposite
05:58Montez Sweat? Should the Bears go after Khalil Mack, or is it time to move on? And if they go
06:03the draft route, who's the guy you want them to target? Smash that like button,
06:08subscribe if you haven't already, and as always, Bear Down!

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