The Chicago Bears are coming off an impressive first season under head coach Ben Johnson, which included winning the NFC North and advancing to the divisional playoffs, and expectations are high for the team heading into Year 2.
While the offense is expected to once again be a strength for the Bears, there are bigger questions about the defense, most notably the defensive line. Chicago elected not to upgrade the defensive line in any significant way this offseason, relying on the guys already on the roster. That includes Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo.
There are also some new faces in the secondary with veteran safety Coby Bryant, rookie safety Dillon Thieneman and rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad, who join cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson.
With big questions entering this season, can Chicago’s defense take a step forward in Year 2 under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen? ESPN’s Mike Clay recently shared his 2026 projections, including for the Bears defense. Here’s a look:
Edge rushers
Defensive tackles
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Projections for Montez Sweat, Bears defense in 2026
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
