Usually, the best thing to do is wait until right before the NFL draft before checking your information on what a team may or may not do. That is often when the board is solidified and teams have a plan in place. They know who they want and how they’re likely to get them. It is no different for the Chicago Bears. Given general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson credit. They’ve managed to keep everybody guessing about their real intentions. However, it feels like something may have slipped out. Time to talk about TJ Parker.
For most of the past month, the Bears have been projected to target an edge rusher with the 25th overall pick. The two popular names by far were Keldric Faulk of Auburn and Zion Young of Missouri. Then things seemed to tilt towards left tackles. The problem is that most plugged-in people believe a big run will happen at that position. If it goes down that way, pass rusher will be the pick, and some of the most knowledgeable national and local draft insiders all agree on the same name.
- Peter Schrager (ESPN) – TJ Parker
- Jordan Reid (ESPN) – TJ Parker
- Dane Brugler (The Athletic) – TJ Parker
- Bill Zimmerman (Windy City Gridiron) – TJ Parker
- Jeff Hughes (Sports Mockery) – TJ Parker
“Chicago Bears: TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson
I’ve heard some conflicting info on Parker. I’ve heard the Bears don’t like him, and I’ve heard the Bears are really hoping he’s there at 25 for them to take.”
So here’s the thing with TJ Parker.
If he had come out of school in 2025, he probably would’ve been in the top 10 conversation. He dominated that season with 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss. Sadly, he chose to stay in school, and it ended up costing him. He regressed to just five sacks last season with 9.5 tackles for a loss. Some have wondered if the previous season was a fluke. His draft stock sagged, and now he’s hovering between a late 1st rounder and early 2nd rounder. Why would the Bears be interested?
For starters, Parker has the measurables that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers. He’s 6’3″ with 33-inch arms and 263 lbs. His healthy 1.61 time in the 10-yard split showcases his quickness and lower-body explosion. His power allows him to set the edge against the run and deliver excellent speed-to-power rushes. Best of all, he plays with a non-stop motor and lots of violence. All of those traits align with what the Bears look for in their prospects. One must also not overlook his strong finish to last season, collecting three sacks against South Carolina and then shining at the Senior Bowl.
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A coordinator change may have hurt him.
One thing that might be somewhat overlooked is that TJ Parker saw a coordinator change going into his final college season. During his first two years, the Tigers defense was run by Wes Goodwin, a longtime assistant and understudy of Brent Venables. That changed in 2025 when he was fired in favor of replacement Tom Allen. It looked like Allen placed much greater emphasis on run defense for his defensive line last season, which goes a long way toward explaining why their pass-rush numbers dipped. This isn’t new. Allen’s system tends to keep his defensive linemen’s sack numbers low. Only one player he has coached since 2016 has crossed double-digit sacks. That was future top 5 pick Abdul Carter in 2024.
TJ Parker isn’t a special talent. Truth be told, most of the edge rushers in this class aren’t. Still, he is one of the most well-rounded. He is strong enough to stop the run, athletic enough to win with speed, and has the motor to never take plays off. If the Bears can get him to expand his inventory of pass rush moves, he has the makings of a really good player. He isn’t the sexiest pick, but sometimes a team must settle for simple meat and potatoes. If it plays out that way, Chicago will have made a sound decision.
