To take the next step, the Bears need to add pass-rushers

INDIANAPOLIS — Zion Young already knows one player in the Bears locker room.

Well, as much as he can.

The Missouri edge rusher played alongside receiver Luther Burden in 2024. They had lockers next to each other. Burden rarely talked, though, until he got on the field. And even then, his play spoke even louder.

The Bears need someone like that on the other side of the ball. For all the work the team has to do this offseason to sharpen what they hope is a championship-contending roster, Job 1 is finding an edge rusher.

Last year, the Bears were the second-worst team in the NFL in terms of pass-rush win rate, which measures how often a pass rusher is able to beat a blocker in under 2.5 seconds. Only three defensive ends recorded a sack last year: Montez Sweat, Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo.

“For us to take the next step as a defense, we do need to pressure the quarterback in a more consistent clip,” coach Ben Johnson said this week at the NFL Scouting Combine. “And so that is a point of emphasis for us. I do think this draft does have some guys that could possibly help us out in that regard. But that'll be something that we got to look at. And it will be a point of emphasis when we come back in the springtime.”

The edge rusher class is deep enough that the Bears are likely to find a starter with the No. 25 overall pick — unless they land a free agent or swing a trade. Raiders all-world defensive end Maxx Crosby would be the top edge rusher available via trade — if he wants to be dealt. He was upset with the team when the Raiders shut him down for medical reasons at the end of the season. Raiders GM John Spytek said this week he expects Crosby to remain a Raider.

Trading for Crosby, who is 29, would take a package similar to what former Bears GM Ryan Pace gave up for Khalil Mack — at least two first-round picks. General manager Ryan Poles hinted Tuesday that the franchise might have learned its lesson after going all-in for Mack and never getting a playoff win to show for it. After winning the NFC North the first year with Mack, Pace never recovered giving up the financial and draft pick outlay for him.

So, yes, Poles wants to win now — but not at the expense of the future.

“What are you willing to sacrifice to do that?” Poles said.

Crosby has a $35.8 million salary cap this year. It would be a lot cheaper for the Bears to just draft an edge rusher. That player has to be plug-and-play, though, for the Bears to improve their pass rush right away.

The Bears are optimistic that Austin Booker can make a leap after posting 4 ½ sacks in 10 games last year, and were intrigued by second-round pick Shemar Turner’s ability to play both end and tackle. But that still won’t be enough. Clemson’s T.J. Parker, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Miami’s Ahkeem Mesidor and Young are edge rushers who should be available when the Bears pick 25th.

Young would bring a shot of energy to the position group, both on and off the field.

"You hear me before you see me,” he said.

Parker, meanwhile, has taken up golf to learn how to clear his mind when things go wrong.

“You can’t blame nobody for yourself,” he said.

The Bears will be able to say the same unless they find a way to fix the problem they’ve already identified. Johnson wouldn’t rule out the Bears adding interior rushers, too.

“We just want to find some really good football players that love to play the game, that love to compete, that want to win football games,” Johnson said. “And we'll figure it out from there.”