Three pass rushers the Chicago Bears must pursue for 2024

Getting to the quarterback is a major problem for the Chicago Bears. Their solution just might be in the 2024 NFL Draft and they have the draft capital to make it happen.

The numbers don't lie: The Bears pass rush is struggling this season. The entire defense has racked up 13 sacks, dead last in the NFL, per StatMuse. Yannick Ngakoue leads the team with three sacks, per ESPN. Similarly, they've given up the second most passing yards this season with 2,312 yards through the air, per NFL.com.

That's enough with the numbers. If you've watched the Bears' defense, you know this isn't a reincarnation of the 1985 Bears.

Trading for disgruntled Washing Commanders' edge rusher Montez Sweat is an improvement. But the Bears need to bring in some young talent up front if they want to build for the long term.

Having a great pass rush is crucial in the NFL. Don't believe me? Just take a look at the last five Super Bowl winners. Each team had a solid rotation of maulers up front. This season, the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs are No. 1 and 2 in terms of sacks. The Ravens look like Super Bowl contenders and the Chiefs are the reigning champion. The Philadelphia Eagles, the best team in the NFL, have the most depth at defensive line and it's not even close.

If the Bears want to compete with the cream of the crop in the NFL, they need to draft edge rushers they can build a team around.

In this article, you'll find three options at pass rusher the Bears must consider in the 2024 NFL Draft. Since the Bears will potentially have two top-10 picks thanks to swapping last year's No. 1 pick with the Carolina Panthers, they can draft one early. This list is dependent on whether these prospects declare for the draft.

Jared Verse, EDGE - Florida State Seminoles

There's a lot to like about Verse. His highlight reel is a thing of beauty. After starting his career at Albany, Verse transferred to Florida State and has shown up, leading them to a No. 4 rank and a potential playoff run in the College Football Playoff--a first for Florida State.

Verse has great hand movement and gets off the ball quickly with great strength. The redshirt junior would've been a first-round pick in last year's draft if he declared himself eligible for the draft. Verse possesses freakish athletic ability and he's going up against pro-level offensive tackles in the SEC.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) consistently praises Verse, grading him high on their metrics.

A 90.9 grade from PFF is nothing to take lightly. Yes, he's only brought in 4.5 sacks on the year, but Verse makes up for it with his run defense. He's a fundamentally sound defensive end who could be a great building block for the Bears' next head coach.

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah compared him to four-time Pro Bowler Ryan Kerrigan. The Bears could use a mainstay like this on their line.

Dallas Turner, EDGE - Alabama Crimson Tide

Expectations were high for Turner after replacing Will Anderson Jr. as the Crimson Tide's ace pass rusher. Turner has met them.

A sure thing if there ever was one, Turner is the No. 1 edge rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft. Like the previously mentioned Verse, he's playing against SEC talent and winning his matchups. A bona fide stud, he has 38 tackles and seven sacks. In last week's win against Louisiana State University (LSU), He recorded four tackles and pressured the quarterback consistently in a decisive 42-28 victory.

While the Crimson Tide aren't in the top five this year, Turner has led an impressive defensive unit. He's a big reason for the Tide's turnaround this season.

He's the kind of draft pick you can plug into your lineup right away and he'll be productive. This is something the Bears need the most. If selected by the Bears, he'll get plenty of starting reps and will see valuable game time since they don't have the defensive front to ease players into the role. Getting better by playing is a strategy that worked out with safety Jaquan Brisker and linebacker Jack Sanborn. Both are under 25 and solid starters for the Bears.

If selected in the first round, Turner will join his former teammate Anderson as yet another blue-chip defensive prospect out of Alabama.

Laiatu Latu, DE - UCLA Bruins

Latu's story is inspiring. After an illustrious high school career in California, the four-star recruit went to the Washington Huskies, where he had a solid start to his college career.

In his sophomore year, Latu injured his neck during practice. The injury was so severe that the Bruins' doctors told him he'd never play football again. Latu retired in earnest with few options. His brief retirement ended when he transferred to UCLA. After passing the team's physical, he was cleared to play football again.

Since joining the Bruins, Latu has put together back-to-back seasons with 10 sacks or more. He was named First-Team All-Pac-12 last season and is a contender for the Ted Hendricks Award, which is given to the best defensive end in the country. He currently has 11 sacks and will surely gain more down the home stretch.

An advantage to drafting Latu is that his 6-foot-5, 265-pound frame is built for the NFL. He's a dominant player on a great UCLA defense and his agility and versatility are on full display every single snap. He'd be a great addition to the Bears line.

One downside to drafting Latu is that he benefits from playing on a talented defensive line. Twin brothers Gabriel and Grayson Murphy have played well on the defensive line and given Latu more opportunities to disrupt plays. Regardless, he'll still be a top draft pick.

UCLA is enjoying its third consecutive winning season under head coach Chip Kelly. Latu's presence has helped the Bruins build a winning program. They earned their first Bowl game in five years last season, losing to Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl.

Latu's best attribute just might be his adversity. It takes a lot to make a comeback from a neck injury like he did. If college football had a Comeback Player of the Year award, he would most likely be the winner.

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