Chicago Bears Draft Rumors: Why Edge Rusher Might NOT Be The Top Priority

Chicago Bears fans already had a vision for how the 2026 offseason would unfold even before the team’s unfortunate playoff loss to the Rams. To many, edge rusher was the position that needed to be addressed. Those convictions only grew stronger after watching the Seattle Seahawks pulverize Drake Maye in the Super Bowl, essentially repeating what the Philadelphia Eagles did to Patrick Mahomes the year prior. The key to a championship run is a good quarterback and a dynamite pass rush. The Bears have the former. They need to get the latter.

For this reason, it is expected that spot will be a central focus for their 25th overall pick in April’s draft. Bears general manager Ryan Poles has never drafted a defensive player in the 1st round. This feels like the perfect time to change that. However, the assumption that it will automatically be an edge rusher appears misplaced. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune mentioned the position’s status in a recent article and pointed out a piece of intel that feels notable as the draft draws closer.

“Allen had to lean heavily into blitz packages. Over the course of the season, when the Bears rushed only four, the results were too inconsistent. The solution is finding more difference makers and more depth across the board — not just another edge rusher.

The Bears are bullish on the future of defensive end Austin Booker, who totaled 4½ sacks and eight QB hits in the final six games, playoffs included, but competition is needed.”

The Chicago Bears are right to feel excited about Booker.

Keep this in mind. The former 5th round pick wasn’t much of a factor in his rookie season, amassing just 10 total pressures in 154 snaps. Things looked much improved in the preseason this past August, but then Booker injured his knee, missing the first eight weeks of the season. Things started slowly with just 11 pressures in his first five games back. Then the switch flipped. Over the last six games, Booker racked up 23 pressures, along with those 4.5 sacks. He was playing borderline dominant football in spurts.

Booker is still just 23 years old. His confidence appears sky high, and he’ll have a chance to build on that stretch run with another offseason to improve his body and expand his repertoire. The Bears aren’t entirely crazy for being excited about him. He and Montez Sweat were a strong tandem. While drafting a pass rusher should still be high on the team’s list, it might not be the defensive position they should be focused on. That is reserved for defensive tackle, where they have multiple issues.

Interior pass rush was the bigger problem for the Bears.

While Dexter had another solid year, it wasn’t close to dominant. Jarrett spent much of the season injured and is in his 30s. Billings and Williams are free agents. Then you look at the four teams that reached the conference championship games this season. All four had an interior pass rusher who finished in the top 10 in total pressures. Seattle and New England, the two Super Bowl participants, each had two.

• Zach Allen (Denver) – 83
• Kobie Turner (LA) – 69
• Leonard Williams (Seattle) – 69
• Byron Murphy (Seattle) – 62
• Milton Williams (New England) – 59
• Christian Barmore (New England) – 58

The edge rushers always get the publicity, but history tends to show that the true championship defenses are the ones who can bring heat up the middle. The Chicago Bears already learned this lesson with Steve McMichael in 1985. Tommie Harris was pivotal to their run in 2006 and was sorely missed in the Super Bowl loss. Akiem Hicks was just as crucial to that 2018 unit as Khalil Mack was. It might be time to start circling defensive tackle as the position to watch at #25.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: How many sacks did Austin Booker have in 2025?

A: 4.5

Q: Where are the Bears picking in the 1st round of the 2026 draft?

A: 25th overall

Q: Who was the last edge rusher the Bears took in the 1st round?

A: Leonard Floyd in 2016