The Chicago Bears will have plenty of focus back on the trenches, both on offense and defense this offseason, during free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft.
While they enjoyed an impressive 2025 season, the holes on the team were obvious, including on the defensive line where there is still a need for pass rushers and interior linemen.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Bears general manager Ryan Poles spoke not only about what positions the Bears may be looking for, but specifically what traits the front office is looking for in defensive linemen prospects.
“Motor, relentlessness, violence, explosiveness,” Poles said, via CHGO, adding: “I want to improve our defensive speed overall.”
Poles explained that he believes the edge rusher group is deeper than defensive tackle in this draft, which could place a bigger importance on an interior lineman in the first round. With the team really just having Gervon Dexter Sr., Grady Jarrett, and last year’s second-round pick Shemar Turner coming off an injury, there’s going to be a need at defensive tackle and several mock drafts have made that an area of focus for Chicago in the buildup to this year’s draft.
In the second year under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, the Bears front office has to continue to find the right pieces that will fit his scheme, and that means finding a way to improve the speed of the unit. Chicago’s defensive line has been in question over the past several seasons, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see them go back into this year’s draft looking to find another piece to possibly solve the puzzle in the defensive trenches.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: What Bears GM Ryan Poles is looking for in defensive linemen
Reporting by Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
