There might not have been a more disappointing free agent signing from last offseason for the Chicago Bears than defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.
Jarrett missed some action due to an injury, but when he did play, it was disappointing to watch, despite his being a great leader on that defense with Jaylon Johnson injured. That has led many to believe the Bears will look to draft a defensive tackle in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft to eventually replace Jarrett.
Essentially Sports NFL analyst Tony Pauline shared that the Bears are one of many teams that are scheduled to meet on a 30-visit with Iowa State defensive tackle Dom Orange. A quad injury kept Orange from working out at the NFL Combine, but Pauline shared the results from the workout he just had.
"Orange measured 6-foot-2 and 321 pounds, hit 31.5 inches in the vertical jump, completed 27 reps on the bench, and ran the 40 once, timing 5.15 seconds, though he did pull up after 35 yards due to tightness in his hamstring. His 10-yard split came in between 1.68 and 1.70 seconds, a terrific mark. His short shuttle time of 4.65 seconds was also impressive."
Bears might have a good future starter in Dom Orange if they select him
Nicknamed "Big Citrus," Orange was named a third-team All-Big 12 selection after having just 18 tackles and one pass deflection. He's projected to be a late Day 2 selection or could go in the fourth round of the draft.
Orange is a pure run stopper and can be a great asset to the Bears' defensive line. The quad injury might be something to monitor, but it appears from his workout that he did a good job with it, given how quickly he is on his 10-yard split.
Gervon Dexter is the defensive tackle the Bears want to develop into a future starter, but Jarrett has two more years on his deal, and that might not last past next year, depending on how 2026 goes. Chicago will be looking for a young defensive tackle to team up with Dexter for the next four years on the line.
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Chicago's goal with the defense is to get younger, faster, and more athletic so they can address what went wrong on that side of the ball in 2025. Orange might need time to develop, but he could surprise some and replace Jarrett soon enough.