The Freak, The Sack King, and The Sleeper: 5 Edges to Fix the Bears
Let’s rip the band-aid off: The Bears’ pass rush in 2025 was painful to watch.
We ranked 25th in pressure rate. We relied on Montez Sweat to do everything short of selling popcorn in the stands. And when Dayo Odeyingbo and Shemar Turner went down, our defensive front looked less like “Monsters of the Midway” and more like a “Polite Welcoming Committee.”
Dennis Allen’s defense is built on aggression. It’s built on guys who can win one-on-ones so he doesn’t have to blitz a safety from the parking lot just to make the quarterback uncomfortable. Right now, we don’t have those guys. We have Sweat, and we have a bunch of “nice efforts.”
Ryan Poles knows it. He was practically living in the defensive line drills at the Senior Bowl. He knows that if he doesn’t find a partner for Sweat, this defense is going to get picked apart by any QB with a pulse.
We’re at Pick 25. The elite guys — the Micah Parsons clones — are probably gone. But this class is deep, and there are still savages on the board.
Here is the no-BS breakdown of the 5 edge rushers the Bears need to know, ranked from “Dream Scenario” to “The Guy We Actually Get.”
1. Arvell Reese (Ohio State) – The “Sell the Farm” Dream
The Vitals: 6’4″ | 243 lbs | Junior
The Vibe: Micah Parsons 2.0. A linebacker who decided he liked hunting QBs better.
Let’s get the fantasy out of the way first. Arvell Reese is a freak. He’s 243 pounds and runs a 4.4. He played linebacker, then moved to edge, and wrecked the Big Ten. He is the perfect Dennis Allen chess piece — drop him in coverage, rush him from the edge, blitz him up the A-gap.
Why He Fits: He is versatility personified. Allen loves guys who don’t telegraph the play. Reese can do it all. His closing speed is terrifying; he runs down ball carriers from the backside like they’re standing still.
The “But…”: He’s not going to be there. Unless Laremy Tunsil releases a video of Arvell Reese doing something illegal in a gas mask ten minutes before the draft, he is a Top-10 pick. The Titans or Jets are going to take him and we’re going to be sad.
The Verdict: If he falls past 15, you call every GM in the league and offer them next year’s draft picks. Otherwise, enjoy the highlight tape, because he ain’t coming to Chicago.
2. David Bailey (Texas Tech) – The Production Monster
The Vitals: 6’3″ | 250 lbs | Senior
The Vibe: A stat-sheet stuffer who lives in the backfield.
David Bailey isn’t just good; he’s historic. He led the FBS in sacks and pressures. He had a sack in 10 consecutive games. The guy is a technician with an elite first step and a “ghost move” that makes tackles look stupid. He’s also a freak athlete (bench presses 405 lbs, squats a small house).
Why He Fits: We need sacks. He gets sacks. It’s not complicated. He’s the best pure pass rusher who might actually be within striking distance. His burst off the line is exactly what this plodding defense is missing.
The “But…”: He’s 250 pounds and plays a little light against the run. Dennis Allen likes his edges to set a hard edge, and Bailey sometimes gets washed out by big tackles. He’s a “Designated Pass Rusher” right now, not a 3-down grinder. Also, there’s a good chance he’s gone by 25 too.
The Verdict: If he falls to 25 because teams are scared of his run defense, you sprint to the podium. You figure out the run defense later. You don’t pass on 14.5 sacks.
3. Zion Young (Missouri) – The “Ryan Poles Special”
The Vitals: 6’5″ | 262 lbs | Senior
The Vibe: Big, long, violent, and exactly what the GM ordered.
This is the name you need to circle in permanent marker. Zion Young is built in a lab for Ryan Poles. He’s 6’5″, has condor arms, and plays with heavy hands. He transferred to the SEC and proved he could bully NFL-caliber tackles.
Why He Fits: He hits all criteria. He fits the size profile. He fits Dennis Allen’s need for a strong-side defensive end who can set the edge and collapse the pocket. Poles was watching him like a hawk at the Senior Bowl. He’s not the flashiest guy, but he’s a high-floor starter who won’t get pushed around.
The “But…”: He’s not a “twitchy” speed rusher. He wins with power (bull rush), not elite bend. If his initial punch doesn’t work, he can get stalled out. He’s more Trey Hendrickson than Von Miller.
The Verdict: This is the most realistic target. He might be a slight reach at 25, but he’s a steal in Round 2. If we trade back or he’s there at 57, he is a Chicago Bear. Book it.
4. Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) – The Bowling Ball
The Vitals: 6’2″ | 277 lbs | Junior
The Vibe: A fire hydrant that destroys everything in its path.
Bain is weird. He’s built like a defensive tackle but plays on the edge. He’s incredibly strong, has great leverage, and wrecked Texas A&M’s & Indiana’s offensive line in the playoffs. He plays with a motor that runs hot for 60 minutes.
Why He Fits: He brings the violence. He’s a great run defender and can kick inside on passing downs to rush over a guard. He’s a versatile power piece.
The “But…”: The arms. They are 30.75 inches long. In the NFL, that is “T-Rex” territory. Ryan Poles loves length. He usually refuses to draft guys with short arms. Bain is an outlier, and outliers get GMs fired.
The Verdict: I love the player, but I hate the fit for Poles. If we draft him, it means we’re changing our entire philosophy. Highly unlikely at 25.
5. Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) – The One-Trick Pony
The Vitals: 6’2″ | 248 lbs | Senior
The Vibe: Fast as hell, bendy, and invisible against the run.
Howell was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He has an elite spin move and bends around the edge like he’s made of rubber. If this was a flag football league, he’d be the #1 pick.
Why He Fits: He brings speed. We lack speed.
The “But…”: He has the same arm length issue as Bain (30.75″) but without the 277-pound frame to back it up. He gets mauled in the run game. He is strictly a 3rd-down specialist. You don’t draft a part-time player in the first round when your defense is broken.
The Verdict: Hard pass at 25. Maybe in the 3rd round as a specialist, but let someone else fall in love with the bend. We need football players, not track stars.
Visualizing the Draft Board
Final Verdict
Here is the reality: Arvell Reese is a pipe dream. David Bailey is the “best case scenario.”
But if we are placing bets? Zion Young is the guy.
He checks every single box for Ryan Poles. He has the length, the size, and the Senior Bowl tape. The smart play might be to trade back from 25, pick up an extra 3rd rounder, and grab Young in the 30s or 40s.
Don’t reach for the short-armed guys. Don’t chase the one-trick ponies. Get the guy who can stand next to Montez Sweat and beat people up.
Bear Down.