Bears GM Ryan Poles speaks on the status of Chicago’s defensive line and one tiny detail could hint toward the team’s first-round draft plans
The Chicago Bears are aware of what positions are deeper than others going into the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’s no secret the Chicago Bears need to improve on the defensive line going into the 2026 season and every piece of content surrounding the team involves some sort of defensive line addition through free agency or the draft.
On Tuesday, Bears general manager Ryan Poles spoke with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine and was asked about the needs on the defensive front and why things weren’t up to standard in 2025.
“I do think, on our D-line, I think there was some situations, mostly injury that didn’t allow that to really come together the way that it was supposed to,” Poles said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “So, I look forward to that happening. But, we’re also going to have to continue bringing talent in to create competition so that our defense can take that next step.”
Poles has a point. The Bears spent excessive resources on the defensive line last offseason to bring in Dayo Odeyingbo, Grady Jarrett, and Shemar Turner. All three players dealt with major injuries throughout the 2025 season, including season-ending injuries for Odeyingbo and Turner that no one could have predicted. But, it’s not like things were great before those injuries occurred, either.
The Bears need to prioritize adding some upgrades to the defensive front and the team will have a great chance to scout some potential targets later this week during the Combine. And one detail Poles mention might have revealed some valuable insight for the team’s first-round plans.
Ryan Poles currently views EDGE as a deeper position in the 2026 NFL Draft compared to DT
“From what we know now – and not until we leave here to gather information from medical and interviews to have complete clarity on the draft – but as it sits right now, I feel like the EDGE is deeper than the interior,” Poles explained.
That’s an important comment and a great question when asked about which position is looking stronger going into the draft. With the depth at the EDGE being deeper, that means you have to strike earlier if you want to land a top defensive tackle in the draft, or do so in free agency.
The EDGE position being deeper is a similar sentiment NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah offered earlier in the month and how teams could draft two quality defensive ends with how deep the position is. But, as for adding a top interior player, the Bears might have to use their first-round pick.
That logic lines up with some of the top industry mock drafts for Chicago. I gathered nine reputable mock drafts from around the media and six different mocks had specifically an interior defensive lineman with the 25th overall pick with Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald being the favorite.
There’s still a lot of time between now and April’s draft, and a lot can change this week, but it’s notable that the Bears view EDGE as a deep position in the class which could lead the team toward using their first-round pick on another position of need. Or prioritizing an interior player in free agency.
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