This time of year is when the Chicago Bears go silent. They are in the final stages of collecting information for the NFL draft. Pro days must be attended and private visits must be conducted. Once that is done, Bears general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Ben Johnson, the scouts, and coaching staff will all huddle together to form the team’s draft board. Direct information on this never comes out for obvious reasons. However, you’ll often find interesting breadcrumbs to follow about which names to watch.
Colston Loveland popped up around this time last year, though nobody paid much attention to it at first. He obviously wasn’t the only one mentioned. However, when insiders with local ties to the team start dropping names, it would be wise to listen. There is a good chance they’ve been hearing things. Sure enough, Adam Jahns of CHGO delivered an interesting update. In his latest column, he answered several questions about the Bears’ draft plans next month. In the process, the insider dropped several names who appear to be in play.
To me, the question isn’t whether a “blue” player will fall. It’s if the Bears’ second tier of players – “red” on their draft board – is large enough to reach the No. 25 pick. It’s a group that could include safeties Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren…
…What I will say is that it will be disappointing if the Bears leave the draft without a defensive end that fits what Dennis Allen wants for his front. It’s a deep class that the Bears need to take advantage of this offseason.
Here are five defensive ends to study as the draft approaches: Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State), Malachi Lawrence (Central Florida), Gabe Jacas (Illinois), TJ Parker (Clemson) and Zion Young (Missouri).
The Chicago Bears are clearly doing their homework on defense.
That is hardly surprising. That unit ranked 29th in the league last season. If they hadn’t secured 30 takeaways, it would’ve been one of the worst defenses of the past decade. Poles and the coaching staff knew going into this offseason that major changes were needed. Tremaine Edmunds was released. Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Nahshon Wright, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson were all allowed to leave in free agency. The only notable additions have been safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush. No edge rushers have been added, and one safety spot remains unaddressed. This would explain Jahns’ list of names.
Thieneman and McNeil-Warren both have that dual-threat capability defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers, able to play down along the line of scrimmage or drop into coverage. As for the defensive ends, all six of them have the size and length Allen typically prefers at the position. Pinpointing the one they want will depend on which of them has the right blend of pass rush and run-stopping ability. Let’s run through each of the names to determine why the Bears are interested.
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Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Checks every box imaginable. He has size and blew up the combine with his athletic testing numbers. It shows on film too, pulling down eight interceptions. Thieneman also isn’t afraid to stick his nose into traffic around the line of scrimmage, making physical plays against ball carriers. He has a high football IQ and the instincts to go along with it. If you’re looking for one of those versatile safeties who can play multiple roles, this is the guy.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Charles Tillman built his legacy on an uncanny instinct for forcing turnovers, particularly forced fumbles. McNeil-Warren has that same knack, forcing nine fumbles in his time at Toledo. That doesn’t include the five interceptions as well. Ball skills aside, the big safety is your classic enforcer type. He roams the line of scrimmage, hunting ball carriers, making good tackles. He’ll also make receivers pay for coming over the middle.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
More of a throwback type of player. Dennis-Sutton is a big, tough, and powerful defensive end whose calling card is setting the edge against the run. There are some reservations about his pass-rush potential, given his lack of burst or ability to bend the edge. Still, he was consistently productive the past two seasons, with 8.5 sacks in 2024 and 2025. He has a future in the NFL, but much will depend on how technically proficient he becomes.
Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
Probably the most naturally gifted pass rusher mentioned in this list. Despite having typical defensive end size, his burst and closing speed feel like those of a smaller player. On top of that, he demonstrates a deep bag of pass rush skills that he deploys to beat blockers. Most pass rushers his age aren’t this advanced. The concern with him is an inability to set the edge against the run, which is something pretty important in this defense.
Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
It’s been a long time since the Chicago Bears took somebody in their own backyard in the 1st round. Jacas is well-deserving. He is a tough, rugged player with power and a violent streak that goes from snap to snap. His wrestling background shows in his ability to fight through blocks, and he’s a good enough athlete to win the edge. The problem is that he’s predictable, which will get him into trouble at the pro level.
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Parker seemed destined to hit the top of the draft after his stellar 2024 season with 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss. That is why his five sacks and nine tackles for a loss last year were such a disappointment. The defensive end has everything. He’s big and boasts knock-back power. The issue has been his solid, not great, athleticism and a bland pass-rush move set. Smart tackles won’t worry about him until that changes.
Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
If you’re looking for the prototypical guy for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, that is probably Young. Big, long, and powerful. He sets the edge really well against the run. His pass rush had lagged behind until last year, when he piled up a ton of pressures, along with 6.5 sacks. Young has the physical tools to be one of the most well-rounded players at his position, but not until he becomes less predictable as a rusher.
