Bears fans optimistic about the offseason, but still concerned about the d-line

Posted by Admin September 5, 2026 NFL

We asked Chicago Bears fans earlier this week to grade Chicago’s entire offseason. From free agency to the draft, to training camp performances, to preseason, and everything in between. Nearly half of us gave it a B, but the prevailing thought in our comments was concern about the defensive line.

There wasn’t a big free-agent addition on the defensive line. A trade never materialized. The NFL Draft didn’t bring anyone on the first two days. And neither the secondary free-agent market nor cut-down day brought anything more than a 30-year-old who’ll start the season on the practice squad.

Then they traded away their most productive defensive tackle from 2025.

“I gave a B, but it’s really just an incomplete,” wrote DontDeserveDITKA. “Time will tell if areas of concern are addressed. If Booker, van den Berg, Lynch and the D line pan out I could go higher.”

“I have seen nothing in the preseason that makes me glad we went safety at 1 versus DT/Edge,” wrote meathead66.

“The championship window is shorter now, and he (Ryan Poles) did virtually nothing to improve the pass rush,” propheteer wrote. “Building the defense from the back to the front is astonishing.”

Roman F said, “To me, the assignment was to fix the DL or at least get started on it.”

Chicago’s offense is primed to take a step and be a top-5 unit, but the defense has some question marks. They brought in more scheme-specific fits for Dennis Allen, but they’ll have to overcome the Coby Bryant injury at safety, figure out who will rush the passer, and then there’s the Kyler Gordon saga.

Our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook have 57 players listed with Defensive Player of the Year odds before getting to the first Bear, cornerback Jaylon Johnson at +12,500. Defensive end Montez Sweat is further down the board at +22,500, and the only other Chicago player listed is linebacker Devin Bush at +50,000.

Those three will need to lead the defense, but they’ll need help to match the low rankings the 2025 group had.

It seems like the Bears could be in a lot of shootouts, which makes sprinkling a little something on Caleb Williams for MVP at +1400 a fun and calculated risk.