Chicago Bears: Three under-the-radar positions to draft

Defensive line is an area the Chicago Bears must address

It comes as a surprise that this position makes the list. With players such as Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols, and Brent Urban, the group seems on paper to be fine. This move comes more from a financial situation.

Hicks is on the last year of a four-year, $48 million deal. He’s due over $10 million in 2021, and unless he’s willing to restructure his contract, the Bears may need to move on from the veteran.

The team is also likely going to lose Roy Robertson-Harris in free agency. A star UDFA, Harris is due for a serious payday. The team will also likely move on from pending free agent Mario Edwards. Edwards signed with the team during the 2020 season but is suspended for the first two games of 2021 for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

If Pace is smart, he can find another gem in the later rounds of the NFL draft to bring in cheap and much-needed depth for the Bears. Here’s a look at who that player could be.

Round 6 Ι Pick No. 200 Ι Phidarian Mathis – Interior Defensive Line, Alabama

A rotational piece out of Nick Saban’s program, Phidarian Mathis could be a nice late-round grab by the Bears. Mathis has a lot of raw power and strength at the line that could be coached up into a solid contributor role for this Bears’ defensive line.