Given the Chicago Bears’ struggles to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout the 2025 NFL season, revamping the pass rush should be a top priority for general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson.
According to Next Gen Stats, the Bears finished No. 25 in the NFL in quarterback pressures (189) last season. It didn't help that two of their high investments went down with season-ending injuries.
Rookie second-round draft pick Shemar Turner tore his ACL in his knee against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8. Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles tendon the following week in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Poles did say in the end-of-season news conference that he expects Turner and Odeyingbon to participate in the offseason “in some capacity.” Even if both players were healthy and ready to go at the start of the season, a defense can never have enough pass rushers.
In CBS Sports' latest 2026 NFL mock draft, the Bears add a much-needed pass rusher for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. At No. 25 overall, the Bears select Missouri 6-foot-5, 262-pound defensive end Zion Young.
“The Bears love size and length up front, and nobody sets the edge quite like Young. He's disruptive with ideal length and pop, and profiles as a strong-side defender with a nice blend of speed, power and a long-arm move.”
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Young played his last two seasons at Missouri before spending his first two years in college at Michigan State. During his senior season for the Missouri Tigers’ defense, Young set career highs in total quarterback pressures (52), sacks (eight), forced fumbles (two), and tackles (21). In his career, Young finished with 106 total pressures, 14 sacks, and 66 tackles in four seasons.
Young primarily lined up outside of opposing offensive tackles (1,498 snaps out of 1,689 snaps on the DL). In his senior season, he played 509 total defensive snaps and had a fairly even distribution playing on the left (214) and right edges (183), according to Pro Football Focus.
Young finished with a career-high 84.7 defensive grade against South Carolina in the Tigers' 29-20 victory. In that game, Young ended with nine total quarterback pressures, including one sack. Based on reports and some flash reps at the 2026 Reese's Senior Bowl, Young has shown some flashes against some of the top competition around the country.
Zion Young again, man. I don’t even think this was a bad rep from the OT Bowry. Young stayed strong through the whistle (as always) pic.twitter.com/cQAEjCJMAa
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 27, 2026
PFF has Young listed as their 47th overall-ranked prospect and ninth-ranked edge defender. The 2026 Draft Class has been widely regarded as a group that has some talented edge rushers. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah had eight edge rushers ranked in his initial top 50 prospects.
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The Bears could add another edge rusher, and the upcoming draft could be an avenue for Chicago to upgrade their pass rush.