There were plenty of reasons why the Chicago Bears lost in the divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams. Chief among them was an inability to control the line of scrimmage. While the defense did pressure Matthew Stafford often, it was their run defense that too often appeared soft. That is why nose tackle might be higher on their priority list for the 2026 draft that people want to admit. This is where the name Christen Miller comes in.
The big 6’4″, 310 lbs defensive tackle was a critical part of Georgia’s tough defense that made the college football playoffs this past season. If you haven’t heard of him yet, you will soon. His ability is good enough that the Bears will absolutely have him circled for the 1st round in April. Let’s explore why.
Christen Miller stats to know:
- 64 tackles
- 11.5 tackles for a loss
- 4 sacks
- 23 run stops in the past two seasons
- 24 pressures in the past two seasons
Strengths:
- His lower body power is impossible to miss, allowing him to hold the point of attack and fight through double teams.
- Upper-body strength lets him stack and shed blockers regularly.
- Doesn’t play in a phone booth. He charges down the line to make tackles.
Here is an example of why Miller is such a pest. Tennessee gets a perfect setup with two guys on him. They should be able to drive him out of the play. Instead, Miller gets low, using leverage and churning feet to push through the double team and quickly closes the distance for a tackle for loss. It looks easy, but so much about this comes from Miller’s mixture of talent, discipline, and intelligence.
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- Tough as nails. Doesn’t fear constant contact and seems durable enough to handle it.
- Much quicker than he gets credit for. Has some pass-rush upside.
- Disciplined in his approach. Never caught out of position.
Weaknesses:
- Average size for a defensive tackle. Doesn’t have the pure mass of a true nose.
- His overall burst is average. Not somebody who will win off the snap.
This shows you the limitations of Miller. He squares up against a bigger Alabama blocker. His initial rush is met squarely. When it doesn’t work, he doesn’t have the juice to fight through it nor a clear secondary move to disengage. This allows Ty Simpson to settle in the pocket and survey the field. This is why Miller will need a true interior rusher next to him to maximize his value.
- Bigger blockers can drive him off the ball.
- Doesn’t have a second move if his first rush doesn’t work.
Bears fans will be reminded of: Kenny Clark
For all the talk about guys like Clay Matthews or Za’Darius Smith, the one player who gave the Bears the most fits was Clark. His ability to dominate the middle as a run defender often short-circuited the Chicago’s offensive game plans in every meeting. When you watch Christen Miller, he plays much the same way. He’s too strong to run-block one-on-one and too smart to be fooled by misdirection or outside runs. You’d better have a really good center; otherwise, he’s going to make your day miserable.
Why Dennis Allen will push for him.
The Bears defensive coordinator has a deep love for strong interior linemen. It’s been his style ever since he began running defenses way back in 2011. Everywhere he’s stopped, his teams draft at least one defensive tackle who displays a great mix of power and leverage. It was true of Shelby Harris in Oakland and later of Sheldon Rankins and David Onyemata in New Orleans. Miller might not win awards as a true pass rusher, but his ability to disrupt is something that defensive line needs more of.
