The Chicago Bears defensive line has been worrisome over the last two seasons under head coach Matt Eberflus when it comes to creating consistent pressure.
The unit was able to come alive during the final stretch of the season after the front office went out to bring in a dominant edge rusher at the trade deadline. The group will largely look the same going into camp, with a few new players joining the room.
With one spot still remaining on the 90-man roster limit, many predict the Bears front office will look to add one more body to the room before camp officially starts. Here's what the room looks like and whether or not an additional free agent is needed.
Bears DL Overview
Who are the confirmed starters:
DE Montez Sweat
DT Gervon Dexter Sr.
DT Andrew Billings
DE DeMarcus Walker
Who are the new additions:
DE Austin Booker (Draft)
DE Jake Martin (FA)
DE Byron Cowart (FA)
DT Keith Randolph Jr. (UDFA)
DE Jamree Kromah (UDFA)
The starting front for the Bears largely remains the same from what the unit looked like the last time we saw the team on the field. Pro Bowler Montez Sweat will look to have a bigger impact after a full offseason in Chicago under his belt and the Bears are expected to ask a lot out of second-year defensive tackle Gervon Dexter. As for the depth, it will be mostly comprised of new faces, both young and experienced.
Sorting Out The Depth
Young players will need to step up:
We already mentioned how much the Bears will have to rely on Dexter as the starting three-technique in Eberflus' system, but he's not the only young player who will have a sizable role on defense. Fellow second-year defensive tackle Zacch Pickens will also be called upon as a rotational piece and will seeing a larger workload after playing 25 percent of the defensive snaps in 2023.
“I want to see polished fundamentals,” defensive coordinator Eric Washington said about the two . “I want to see things that I know will allow them to be as disruptive and as efficient with their rush fundamentals as possible. We’re talking footwork, alignment adjustments based on the down and distance, and when we’re in an obvious passing situation. It’s more awareness and just a great coordination of fundamentals that I know that are going to give them a chance to really win that particular rep and down.”
As for the depth on the edge, this is where the true battle will take place on the defensive line. Sweat and Walker are the clear starters, but who will come off the bench behind them will be interesting to sort out between rookie Austin Booker, free agent acquisition Jake Martin and third-year Dominique Robinson.
Booker and Martin got the majority of the strong reviews out of OTAs and minicamp, meaning Robinson will have to put together a strong showing during training camp to solidify his spot on the roster.
How quick will Austin Booker get involved:
The Bears fifth-round rookie showed up and looked great during rookie minicamp and OTAs in the absence of Sweat. With the leader in the room back for mandatory minicamp, Booker was able to slow down his development and learn behind him.
"Oh man I’m excited about him," Sweat explained . "He’s got the whole make up, to the frame, to the pass rushing ability, he’s gonna be a great player. I just gotta be that big brother for him and be there when he has a question."
As good as he's looked, the coaching staff has still be taking his development one step at a time and won't be thrusting him into the immediate spotlight, for the better. Booker mainly played as a rotational guy in college, albeit a productive one, and needs to continue refining his skills before getting a sizable workload. However, for these types of players, getting snaps is the best way to learn and Booker will be constantly rotating in off the edge if he continues to make great lengths in his progress at camp.
Will any other outside free agents get added:
The Bears have one spot remaining if they want to add another player before camp and with experienced names still on the market, it's an enticing thought to consider.
The coaching staff obviously first wants to see what they truly have in their young players, something they weren't really able to do during OTAs and minicamp since the defensive line were not allowed to fully rush the passer. Now, the chains are loosened for camp and the spotlight will be on some of the young guys during the first week.
The free agent name commonly mentioned is Yannick Ngakoue, whom the team could look to bring back after rehabbing from a broken ankle that ended his debut season in Chicago. Ngakoue still holds a lot of respect on the coaching staff and would be a great leader to pair with Sweat for the young players in the room. Other options on the market include Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Lawson, and Shaq Lawson. We'll soon see how the coaching staff really feels about the unit up-front.
Biggest Training Camp Sleeper at DL: Keith Randolph Jr.
As for the sleeper in the room when it comes to making the 53-man roster, I'm going with another undrafted free agent. Keith Randolph Jr. is an excellent run-stopping defensive tackle who also recorded 10.0 sacks in his college career.
That impact is exactly why the Bears paid big money to sign him after the draft concluded. Randolph was one of the highest paid UDFAs in the entire league and was a player whom the Bears showed significant interest in during the pre-draft process.
"He has the flexibility to play either D-tackle or nose in our system, that's what he's going to have to do" defensive line coach Travis Smith told the Daily Herald . "The more reps he gets where he's going to get to play both positions, we'll get a feel for what he does great, and that's what we believe."
Following the departure of Justin Jones in free agency, the Bears have an open spot for grabs as a backup defensive tackle on the roster. Randolph has the green light to snatch that open role and even find his way onto the field after training camp.
Related: Chicago Bears Training Camp Battle Preview: Former starter in the backfield could be a cut candidate after camp
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