With the primary moves in free agency done, teams can shift back to preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft in late April. 

The Bears have retooled their roster, adding some necessary pieces on the offensive and defensive lines, some playmakers on defense and a veteran wide receiver. One position that wasn’t addressed was edge rusher. 

Ryan Poles acknowledged after the first day of free agency that the Bears “checked into” pass rusher Maxx Crosby’s availability. The Bears’ general manager said there was some dialogue with the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Crosby is still with the Raiders, as of now. 

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen still needs more playmakers who can rush the quarterback. And in two mock drafts, the Bears get a player who can help with Chicago’s problem. 

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NBC’s Connor Rogers published their latest mock drafts on March 17, and both of the draft experts had the Bears selecting Missouri defensive end Zion Young with the No. 25 overall pick. 

From Kiper:

“The Bears had 35 sacks (tied for 22nd) and a lowly 28.0% pressure rate (29th) last season. Montez Sweat had 10 of those sacks, but there wasn't much beyond him. Dayo Odeyingbo was signed last offseason to be the second guy off the edge, but he managed one sack over eight games before an Achilles injury ended his season. Despite struggling to find consistent quarterback pressure for a few years now, Chicago hasn't used a top-50 pick on an edge rusher since Leonard Floyd went ninth in 2016.

Let's change that. Young had 6.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season, playing with power and a full-go motor. He'd bring some intensity to the Bears' front."

From Rogers:

“I think NFL teams will be higher on Zion Young than media consensus. He’s big, tough, plays his butt off snap after snap and took a giant leap as a pass rusher this year. The Bears will love that he’s built for all three downs, while ascending at getting after the quarterback.”

Let’s start with Young’s size. AT 6-foot-6, 262 pounds, the Missouri pass rusher has the physical attributes that Allen ideally wants in his defensive ends. Someone big enough to set the edge against the run but can still get after the quarterback. 

During his four-year collegiate career, split between Michigan State and Missouri, Young demonstrated significant growth in both run defense and pass rushing. He finished his tenure with a career-high 86.6 run-defense grade, a notable jump from his junior year (79.9). His evolution as a pass rusher was even more pronounced. According to Pro Football Focus,  he racked up 57 pressures and eight sacks, more than doubling his production from the previous year.

Against the South Carolina Gamecocks last season, Young had a season-high nine quarterback pressures. He played that game with violence and showed great effort throughout.

Young produced on the field, but he also displayed leadership qualities. He was named a captain ahead of his senior season at Missouri, and that shouldn't go overlooked during the evaluation process. 

Based on the Bears' needs on defense, Young's playmaking ability and where Chicago selects in the first round, it makes a lot of sense why the Missouri pass rusher continues being mocked to Chicago.