The Chicago Bears' defensive line has been one of the biggest headaches for this franchise over the last few seasons.
Last year was no exception, as only Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter played well. Everyone else was a wash, as Sweat and Dexter combined for 16 of the team's 35 sacks in 2025.
Part of the problem with the lack of a pass rush was Austin Booker's injury at the beginning of the year and then Dayo Odeyingbo's injury in the second half of the year. The Bears are trying to figure out how to get the most out of the two and help them improve, especially Odeyingbo. Chicago might have an interesting solution to this.
Bears might have found a perfect role for Dayo Odeyingbo on defense
Odeyingbo's three-year, $48 million contract given to him in free agency last offseason already made Bears fans feel funny about it. One sack in eight games in 2025 confirmed those same fans' concerns about him.
The Bears are trying to find anything they can do to get Odeyingbo to work within defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme. ESPN Bears reporter Courtney Cronin shared what the team did with Odeyingbo at training camp that might actually work for them.
"Dayo Odeyingbo worked from the interior of the D-line for most of the practice on pass rushing downs. He came away with an interception on a Tyson Bagent pass that was batted at the line of scrimmage."
This might actually be crazy enough to work. Sure, Odeyingbo is a bit undersized for defensive tackle, but he could actually be a problem for guards and centers around the NFL.
Over his five-year NFL career, Odeyingbo's best season in sacks was eight, with only 17.5 in 69 games. But one good thing about him, though, is that he can get pressure on the quarterback. He has posted 50 quarterback hits.
Edge rushers need to be good enough not only to pressure the quarterback, but also to finish the play with a sack. Interior defensive linemen don't necessarily have to do that.
This could be the key for Odeyingbo to get more playing time on the Bears and earn the team's trust. Chicago's defensive tackle position isn't particularly strong outside of Dexter. Maybe Odeyingbo could be Grady Jarrett's eventual long-term replacement.
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It's too early to say if something like this would actually work, but it's at least a creative idea by Allen to utilize Odeyingbo to do what he does best. This is a bold strategy that the Bears pray will end up paying off for them.
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