Despite multiple struggles in the department of offensive linemen and wide receivers, the Bears’ pass rush was a league-worst. In just one season, the Chicago Bears went from being top five in sacks, with 49 in 2021, to recording only 17 in 2022 – a league low. To put things into perspective, Rookie Safety Jaquan Brisker led the Bears in total sacks with only four. It’s clear that Ryan Poles will address the lackluster defensive line this off-season, and lucky for him there are some sack-getting gems in the upcoming draft. Here are my rankings for the top five edge rushers for the Bears to draft.
1. Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Will Anderson Jr. landing at number one should be a no-brainer for any football fan, as he is easily the best pass rusher in the draft – some may even say the best player. Despite his large build and muscle, Will Anderson Jr. has freakish agility and a sudden burst of speed which are one of many redeeming qualities for this top prospect. A cause of concern for Will Anderson Jr. is his missed tackles. Will Anderson Jr. has shown small inconsistencies with tackling at moments, but that can be fixed with proper coaching and adjustments to technique. Will Anderson Jr. will undoubtedly be a top-five pick, so the Bears need to be careful if they trade down a few spots.
2. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
In my opinion, Tyree Wilson is a player flying under many people’s radars. Since his 2020 season, Tyree Wilson has progressively gotten better every season. When it comes to describing monster edge rushers, Tyree Wilson perfectly fits the description with his seven-foot wingspan and six-foot-six height. If the Bears play Tyree Wilson to his strengths, he could become a behemoth on the football field. Unlike Will Anderson Jr., Tyree Wilson will likely be available if the Bears decide to trade down outside the top five.
3. Myles Murphy, Clemson
Myles Murphy is definitely a blue-chip prospect, but I think he is a tad overhyped. Make no mistake any NFL team would be getting a great edge-rusher in Myles Murphy, but Myles Murphy is a very one-dimensional player that fails to be put in the same conversation as Will Anderson Jr. and Tyree Wilson. This season Myles Murphy had a 10% pressure rate and only 22 stops on defense, which is less than every player on this list. Mock drafts have Myles Murphy going in the top ten, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him fall a few spots more.
4. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
The Illinois boy himself, Lukas Van Ness, has recently climbed a lot of draft boards due to his impressive combine performance. While Georgia Edge Rusher Nolan Smith quickly out shadowed Lukas Van Ness with his generational combine performance, Lukas Van Ness has proven he makes more of an impact on the field than Nolan Smith and other projected round-two pass rushers. Similar to Tyree Wilson, Lukas Van Ness is a big dude, weighing 275 pounds and standing at six foot five. If the Bears acquire an early second-round pick by trading down in the draft, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lukas Van Ness’ homecoming to Chicago.
5. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
Calling Felix Anudike-Uzomah underrated would be an understatement. Felix Anudike-Uzomah is one of the most slept-on players in this year’s draft for many reasons. Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s consistency is the key to his potential. In three seasons, Felix Anudike-Uzomah has 93 pressures, 22 sacks and 73 run stops in three years of college ball. Felix Anudike-Uzomah may not be able to take over games like Will Anderson Jr., but with proper coaching, Felix Anudike-Uzomah could transform into a superstar right in front of our eyes. There is a great chance that Felix Anudike-Uzomah could hear his name called with the Bears’ 54th overall pick in the draft, which would be a huge steal.
These five players all have one thing in common, they exceed at the highest level of college football in pass rushing. I know there are some names on this list that you may have been expecting, but I’m ranking these players based on their availability to the Bears, not overall talent. If you disagree with my list then please leave a comment below regarding why you disagree. With March finally, here, we are only a month away before we finally get to see the newest additions to the Chicago Bears.
