The number one position Chicago Bears fans want to see addressed in the offseason is at defensive end.
Chicago struggled last season to get to the quarterback consistently, recording only 35 sacks. That was ranked 22nd in the NFL, with only six other teams having fewer than the Bears. Clearly, this is a problem the Bears must fix in the next few months, whether that's through the NFL Draft or in free agency.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles is making that point clear, too, that he wants a good edge rusher in the draft. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Devin Jackson reported seeing Poles watching offensive line and defensive line one-on-one reps closely at the Senior Bowl. Jackson added that Missouri edge rusher Zion Young was one of the standouts from that drill.
Ryan Poles might have tipped his hand on what the Bears will do in NFL Draft
Poles is not afraid to show off his latest decision, as he is looking for someone to complement Montez Sweat. While Austin Booker shows potential, the complete flop of Dayo Odeyingbo makes it that much easier for the Bears to go down the route of finding the next great pass rusher in the draft.
Young got the attention of everyone at the Senior Bowl as a constant name brought up as a winner in the early workouts. He's been getting a lot of attention after his 16.5 sacks in his senior year at Missouri this past season.
This could very easily mean that Young might be fighting his way up the draft board to become a first-round pick. Chicago hopes he doesn't climb too high because he would be a perfect fit for Dennis Allen's defense with the Bears.
The Bears could make Young a rotational player alongside Booker and Odeyingbo in the first season to figure out who will be the starter among the three beyond 2026. A great year from Young could open the door for Chicago to accept that they made a huge mistake with Odeyingbo and move on from him either this offseason or next offseason.
Read more: Forgotten Bears backup could be signing his last future deal in NFL
Young looks like a great pass rusher in the making with his strength and speed he shows when he comes out the line. The Bears would be smart to keep their eyes on him and see what it would take to bring him in.