Poles signals a strategic shift. A deep edge rusher class could push defensive tackle up the Bears' 2026 draft board.
Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles may have just revealed a little bit about where the team will select a specific position in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Heading into April, the Bears have some needs at left tackle, safety, edge rusher and linebacker. One of the most recent developments is at linebacker after the Bears allowed Tremaine Edmunds to seek a trade.
Even if the Bears don't trade Edmunds and release him, it will still give them $15 million in cap space.
The need for a safety comes after the contracts of Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker have expired. The left tackle situation is uncertain after the recent patellar injury to Ozzy Trapilo that he suffered in the Wild Card win against the Green Bay Packers.
The need for a reliable pass rusher has been a problem Chicago has dealt with for years. Montez Sweat had 10 sacks last season, but after Dayo Odeyingbo went down with an Achilles injury, it became clear that there was a lack of depth at the position.
The Bears were 22nd in the NFL with 35 sacks in 2025.
Poles spoke at the NFL Combine about how the edge-rusher position is looking in this year's draft, and he believes it's deeper than the interior defensive line.
"Yeah, I would say from what we know now, and not until we leave here and gather the information from medical interviews, will we have complete clarity on the draft. But as it sits right now, I feel like the edge is deeper than the interior." Poles said.
This could make the draft more interesting. If the edge rusher group is much deeper than Poles' thought, the Bears could afford to select one later on in the draft as opposed to using their first-round pick on it.
This means we could see the Bears take a defensive tackle at No. 25 after all. Multiple mock drafts this offseason have had the Bears going with a defensive lineman.
Chicago could really use some help along the interior of the defensive line.
The offense was firing on all cylinders for the Bears last season. Chicago ranked inside the top 15 for passing yards, rushing yards and points per game.
On defense, the Bears were really only good at one thing: forcing turnovers. The Bears led the league with 33 turnovers. Everywhere else? They weren't great.
Chicago allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game in the league, pointing to a need for more reliable defensive tackles.
It sounds like we may see the Bears take a defensive tackle earlier than expected with Poles' recent exclamation.