You can never have enough pass rushers, so when you don’t have enough, it really stands out. The Chicago Bears had 35 sacks last season, which was 22nd in the NFL, and 84 QB hits, which was 25th. It wasn’t just a lack of pass rush that plagued the Bears, because they also struggled in tackling the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage, with just 66 tackles for loss (27th).
Of those 35 sacks, just 18 came from defensive ends, so Chicago needs to add a difference maker to the position.
Here are Chicago’s
current defensive ends.
Montez Sweat – Signed through 2027 – Sweat bounced back last year after a down 2024, and he showed why the Bears made that trade and paid him the big contract. He’s a good football player, but he’s not enough. He had 53 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 18 QB hits, 5 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
Every site tracks hurries differently, but Pro Football Focus had him down for the 15th most (36), and he was 20th in pressures (53). PFF also had him 5th in stops (37), which is one of their signature stats.
A stop constitutes a ‘win’ for the defense or conversely a ‘loss’ for the offense. PFF describes a ‘stop’ further as an offensive gain on first down that is kept to less than 40 percent of the line to gain, less than 50 percent of the line to gain on second down and any third- or fourth-down play kept without a first down or touchdown.
Austin Booker – Signed through 2027 – Booker turned 23 a couple of months ago, and his 2025 season was far better than his rookie year. I’d expect another jump in 2026, but will that be big enough for the Bears to count on him being a starter opposite Sweat again?
In a perfect world, Booker will be the DE3 while he continues to work on his pass rush toolbox, because his athleticism and motor give him a high ceiling. In ten games last year, he had career highs across the board with 35 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 12 QB hits, 3 passes defended, and a forced fumble.
In case you missed it, so far through two years, Booker has surpassed his draft status and has been playing like a second round pick.
Dayo Odeyingbo – Signed through 2027 – Dayo played in eight games before tearing his Achilles, and in those games, he had 21 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 QB hits, and a pass defended. I’ve seen plenty suggest an injury settlement, but if you’re Dayo, why would you agree to anything like that? He’s set to make over $20 million this year.
Dominique Robinson – Free agent – Dom Rob found a role in Dennis Allen’s defense, and he was a special teams contributor, but the Bears need to get better depth at this position.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Free agent – The Bears sent a sixth-round pick to the Browns for Tryon-Shoyinka and a seventh-round pick, and in his eight games in Chicago, he had 13 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a QB hit.
Daniel Hardy – Restricted free agent – Hardy is still listed as a defensive end, but he can also play some linebacker, he lined up a couple of plays at fullback, and he’s a core special teamer. His 355 snaps in the third phase led the team, as did his 19 special teams tackles. I can see Hardy back, but not on an RFA tender.
Jamree Kromah – Signed through 2026 – He was a 2024 UDFA of the Bears who made their practice squad, but was signed away by the Patriots for a few weeks, was waived, then re-signed to Chicago’s practice squad, where he’s been since.
The Bears signed Kromah and the next two defensive ends to reserve/futures contracts earlier this year.
Jonathan Garvin – Signed through 2026 – Garvin was on Chicago’s practice squad a few months last year, and he has been bouncing around the NFL since 2020, with 38 games played.
Jeremiah Martin – Signed through 2026 – He spent a couple of months on the Bears practice squad last season, and Chicago is his eighth pro football stop since 2023. He has yet to play in a regular season game.
2026 OUTLOOK – Just about every mock draft has the Bears taking a defensive lineman at 25 in the first round, and this is a good class to have needs in the trenches. They should come away from the first two days (right now they have picks 25, 57, and 89) with at least one defensive end and one defensive tackle.
At 25 in the first round, that could be Clenson’s T.J. Parker, who had 41.5 tackles for loss and 21.5 sacks in 39 games over three seasons.
Miami’s Akheem Mesidor is an older prospect (25), but he’s polished and would be an immediate contributor.
The big free agent this year is Trey Hendrickson, who is 31 and coming off an injury, but in 2023 and 2024, he racked up 35 sacks. Most projections are for about $100 million over three years, which would be challenging for the Bears to fit under the cap, but doable.
The other big name is the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, who is still under contract but has been the subject of trade rumors for months. A first-round pick, a player, and a day two pick could be enough for the Bears to get it done. He’d probably require an immediate contract extension, but again, the Bears have moves to make to create the cap space.
If he doesn’t retire, Khalil Mack would be fun back in Chicago at the right price, but he can’t be the only move they make.
New England’s K’Lavon Chaisson will be 27 this summer, and he’s coming off a career-best 7.5 sacks.
What do you think the Bears will do at defensive end this season?
