The Chicago Bears‘ defense had plenty of problems last season. At the top of the list was their pass rush. Outside of Montez Sweat, nobody managed to sustain continuous pressure on the quarterback. That was especially true along the interior. Although Gervon Dexter had six sacks, he wasn’t consistently disruptive. In truth, the Bears haven’t had a true interior pass rusher since Akiem Hicks left. Finding one has become a vital key for general manager Ryan Poles and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
The problem is that this incoming draft class is light on proven commodities. There are no clear-cut, obvious defensive tackles who fit the bill. It may require a calculated roll of the dice on someone with the tools for it, rather than a ready-made option. Based on a recent update from the scouting trail, the Bears may have one they like.
While Oklahoma has multiple prospects the team should like, the name to watch here is Gracen Halton. Many view him as one of the most natural three-technique defensive tackles in the class, using his quickness and explosion to disrupt plays in the backfield. Many have compared him to Buffalo Bills standout Ed Oliver, while others see a more consistent version of former Sooner Neville Gallimore.
The same player Chicago just signed as a free agent.
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Halton fits the Dennis Allen profile.
History says the Bears’ defensive coordinator likes smaller, quicker defensive tackles in the middle. This creates more disruption on the interior, while bigger defensive ends help contain the run. You saw it with guys like Sheldon Rankins, David Onyemata, and Bryan Bresee. All of them had explosiveness in their lower body, weighed 300 lbs or less, and ran a sub-1.75 in the 10-yard split. Halton is 293 lbs with a 1.70 time from the combine. He checks the boxes for what Allen wants.
The big sticking point for many is his lack of production. In two years as a starter, he had just 8.5 sacks. Then again, that shouldn’t be discouraging. Oklahoma’s head coach, Brent Venables, has a stellar track record with defensive tackles going back almost 30 years.
| Player | College | Games | Total Tackles | TFL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Wilkins | Clemson | 59 | 250 | 41.0 | 16.0 |
| Grady Jarrett | Clemson | 48 | 207 | 29.5 | 5.5 |
| Dexter Lawrence | Clemson | 40 | 162 | 20.0 | 11.0 |
| DeShawn Williams | Clemson | 53 | 161 | 16.5 | 5.0 |
| Tommie Harris | Oklahoma | 37 | 97 | 34.0 | 10.0 |
| Gerald McCoy | Oklahoma | 40 | 83 | 33.0 | 14.5 |
| Albert Huggins | Clemson | 46 | 83 | 11.5 | 7.0 |
You’ll notice that even the guys who didn’t have great production, like Harris and McCoy, went on to become Pro Bowlers in the NFL. All had almost the exact same skill set as Halton. Allen coached Jarrett last year and Bresee in New Orleans. He knows what Venables’ defensive tackles can do.
