Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Position Preview: Defensive Line

One of the biggest complaints for Chicago Bears fans, last season, came while watching the play of their defensive line.

Along with offensive line, the defensive line was arguably the worst position on the team. It was not good, and that’s putting it lightly.

Matt Eberflus and Alan Williams came into a situation where they would be without Khalil Mack or Akiem Hicks, along with eventually trading Robert Quinn. Of course this unit was going to be terrible. Did anybody think differently?

Now, going into free agency and the NFL Draft, this team has a lot of cap space, tons of draft capital, and general manager Ryan Poles can do some serious damage.

The defensive line is going to look far different for the Chicago Bears after free agency

Bears defensive line free agents in 2023:

Al-Quadin Muhammad (terminated)

Angelo Blackson

Mike Pennel

Armon Watts

Without blinking, the Bears will move on from all three of their remaining free agent linemen. This is going to be one of the biggest positional overhauls we’ll see in Chicago this offseason.

Bears defensive linemen under contract for 2023:

Justin Jones

Trevis Gipson

Dominique Robinson

Jalyn Holmes

Gerri Green

Donovan Jeter

It would not be shocking for the Bears to move on from Justin Jones, like they did with Al-Quadin Muhammad. It would also not be a surprise to see the Bears’ only remaining defensive linemen from a year ago include Gipson and Robinson.

This is, after all, a paint point area for the Bears’ roster. In 2022, the defensive line couldn’t get pressure to save their lives. They couldn’t stop the run, either. This was a downright, embarrassing area for the Bears last season.

Best available free agent defensive linemen in 2023:

Da’Ron Payne

Javon Hargrave

Dalvin Tomlinson

Marcus Davenport

Yannick Ngakoue

Brandon Graham

Fletcher Cox

Poona Ford

There are a ton of free agent defensive linemen, but these are the top names. Many Bears fans want the team to for sure come away with one of Payne, Hargrave, Tomlinson, Ford or Davenport. Any of those guys would dramatically improve the pass rush and run defense.

Payne is, of course, the dream scenario. He is going to get a gigantic contract wherever he lands, but the Bears are maybe the only team that could hand him the so-called blank check. Does Poles go right for the jugular as free agency opens and ink Payne?

If Chicago could land Payne, the offseason would be off to one heck of a start. Even signing one of the other top names, or two, would be an enormous win. The Bears have to focus in on this area, though, in free agency and the draft. Their defensive front is going to look much different in 2023, and they have no choice but to perform an overhaul here.