On Monday, we asked you guys to vote for the Chicago Bears’ biggest remaining need, and more than half of you said defensive end, which is exactly how I voted. The entire defensive line unit received 84% of the vote, which would jibe with what Bill wrote earlier this week when he shared his concerns about the position group.
The current Bears depth chart at the defensive end is Montez Sweat and Austin Booker as the starters, and…
That’s really all they should count on, if we’re being honestk which
is why 54% of you picked EDGE.
Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles tendon on November 2, and depending on the severity of the rupture, it could take up to a year to return. He also tore his Achilles in January of 2021 while preparing for the NFL Draft, and he didn’t return until October 31 that year. So if it’s a similar injury, he may make it back for the season opener in September, but that’s the best-case scenario.
Shemar Turner started to get some reps off the edge before he tore his ACL on October 26, and that could also be a 12-month recovery time. Again, the best-case scenario is that he’s back this summer and can be ready for week one.
But even if Dayo and Turner are cleared, would they be able to handle a full workload? Odds are they’d be eased back into the lineup while they get their conditioning right.
Also off the edge for the Bears is Daniel Hardy, but he’s mostly around for his special teams, and practice squad contenders Jonathan Garvin, Jamree Kromah, and Jeremiah Martin.
The Bears need at least one trustworthy defensive end, which I expect to come early in the NFL Draft, and depending on the rehab of the aforementioned injured ends, they may also need to add a vet.
Our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook have a couple of prop bets available about the draft, and as we get closer to round one on April 23, I’m sure they’ll have a few more.
What’s your best guess for the Bears’ direction at 25 overall? Defensive end, defensive tackle, or something else?
