The Chicago Bears‘ 2025 offseason was proof positive of the impact that targeted spending in free agency, on the trade market, and hitting on key positions of need in the NFL Draft can make.
By any reasonable measure, trading for All-Pro offensive guard Joe Thuney, signing top free agent center Drew Dalman, and adding playmakers at the top of the NFL Draft in tight end Colston Loveland and Luther Burden were a resounding success for the Bears. After all, each helped propel a worst-to-first turnaround in the NFC North and played vital roles in advancing to overtime of the NFC Divisional playoffs.
Chicago Bears still need to check a major box
Oct 26, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (5) runs with the ball as Chicago Bears defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (55) chases in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Despite the Bears’ best efforts, as ESPN points out, pass rusher remains a glaring weakness once again this offseason that general manager Ryan Poles and Chicago can’t afford to whiff on again.
“Rebuild the pass rush,” ESPN’s lists as the Bears’ top priority this offseason. “The Bears’ inability to pressure opposing quarterbacks was a glaring weakness all season. Despite spending big last free agency on defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (one sack in eight games before a season-ending injury) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (two sacks), the Bears got very little return on investment. The No. 1 focus must be a big swing on an edge rusher in free agency or the draft.”
Despite Montez Sweat producing a career-high 10 sacks, the bears got very little from the pass rush this past season, whcih seemed to build a self-imposed ceiling over coordinator Dennis Allen’s unit’s impact.
The Seattle Seahawks just showed the world the value of a swarming and dominant pass rush, and wrote the blueprint the Bears must follow if Chicago is serious about pushing for a Super Bowl berth out of the NFC.
Whether it comes by prioritizing an edge rusher early in the NFL Draft, trading premium draft capital to acquire a veteran such as Maxx Crosby, or reuniting Allen with veteran free agent Trey Hendrickson, the Bears need to upgrade the front-seven in a similar way to how Chicago overhauled the offensive line in front of Caleb Williams last offseason.
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