(670 The Score) During a Pro Bowl campaign in 2023, pass rusher Montez Sweat showcased to the Bears how valuable he can be. But in his injury-plagued 2024 season, the Bears saw how much a healthy Sweat was missed.
Sweat managed to play 16 games in 2024 but had just 5.5 sacks as he dealt with injuries to his toe, elbow, shin and ankle.
“It gets to me a little bit,” Sweat said in November. “Us pass rushers, we look at numbers. We know we’re judged upon our numbers. But I know it’s just one bump in the road. We got to keep going.”
Sweat's ailments and nose tackle Andrew Billings' season-ending pectoral injury exposed the Bears’ lack of reliable talent on their defensive line. With the offseason underway, general manager Ryan Poles needs to address his team’s depth up front on defense.
Editor's note: This is the latest installment of our Bears offseason outlook series. You can read the previous breakdowns by clicking the links below.
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Tight end
Offensive line
Who’s back: Montez Sweat (28), DeMarcus Walker (31), Andrew Billings (30), Gervon Dexter (24), Zacch Pickens (25), Dominique Robinson (27), Austin Booker (23) and Jamree Kromah (25).
Free agents: Byron Cowart (28), Jonathan Ford (26), Daniel Hardy (26), Jacob Martin (29), Darrell Taylor (27) and Chris Williams (26).
The Bears have several decisions to make this offseason before fortifying their defensive line. That will entail an honest evaluation of certain players and perhaps a salary cap-saving cut.
The Bears haven’t gotten enough from Dexter and Pickens, who were drafted in the second round and third round in 2023, respectively. Dexter improved by recording five sacks in 2024 and is in line to return as the team's three-technique defensive tackle, though the Bears could upgrade that position. Pickens has struggled considerably in his young NFL career. He was a healthy scratch late last season, an indication of the team’s frustration with his performance.
As for the Bears' young players on the edge, third-year defensive end Dominique Robinson was a healthy scratch in 11 games last season while rookie Austin Booker had just 1.5 sacks and didn't ascend as the Bears hoped.
Poles has failed to add disruptive defensive linemen in the NFL Draft, and the results haven’t been much better in free agency.
Veteran defensive end DeMarcus Walker had 3.5 sacks in 2023 and 3.5 sacks in 2024. He’s a versatile player who’s respected in the locker room, but his production hasn't been enough.
Walker is a prime candidate to be released in the coming weeks, a move that would save the Bears $5.25 million against the salary cap.
What’s next?
The Bears can't afford to go into the 2025 season wondering whom they can count on to rush the passer. It’s a priority this offseason to add consistent players to the defensive line.
The free-agent market is filled with talented pass rushers who could step in to make an impact. The top option available is Khalil Mack, who played in Chicago from 2018-'21. Mack had just six sacks in 2024 but had 17 sacks back in 2023. He’s still a dominant, disruptive player. Mack will turn 34 on Saturday.
There’s also the possibility of the Bears creating a Sweat tandem, as Josh Sweat is set to become a free agent. He’s 27 years old and had eight sacks in 2024 as part of the Eagles’ championship season.
If the Bears really want to swing big, they could pursue Browns superstar defensive end Myles Garrett on the trade market. He has 102.5 sacks in eight NFL seasons and is on track to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Garrett has posted double-digit sacks in each of the last seven seasons, including 14 in each of the past two years, and has earned All-Pro honors six times.
Of course, trading for Garrett would come at a high cost, one the Bears may not be interesting in paying. Chicago owns the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft and can address a big need with that selection, including the possibility of landing a pass rusher. A trade package for Garrett would start with that first-round pick and include more draft capital from there.
Acquiring Garrett is the type of bold move that makes sense for a championship contender. That isn't the current state of the Bears, who went 5-12 in 2024 and have a variety of holes to fill on their roster.
The NFL Draft is loaded with talented edge rushers like Abdul Carter (Penn State), Jalon Walker (Georgia), Mykel Williams (Georgia), Mike Green (Marshall) and Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), among others.
While it seems like the Bears’ slot at No. 10 overall lines up well to land an offensive tackle, they could also benefit from selecting a pass rusher there.
As for the Bears' defensive tackle positions, free agency will feature options to create stability on the interior. In the NFL Draft, Michigan standout defensive tackle Mason Graham is the top player at his position.
Prediction: Bears reunite with Mack in free agency
Mack is an ageless wonder who could be a key upgrade for the Bears, and he would also fit in from a contractual standpoint.
The Bears could sign Mack to a two-year deal at a higher premium to fit his contract within the window of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams' rookie deal. He would be a significant improvement on the defensive front without jeopardizing the salary cap sheet in the long term.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.