3 Pac-12 pass rushers Chicago Bears fans should watch

The Chicago Bears’ defense should be better this season but they will still eventually need to add a young pass rusher who can dominate for years to come.

Yannick Ngakoue is on a one-year deal. DeMarcus Walker is a solid pass rusher, but he is not going to keep offensive coordinators awake at night. Dominique Robinson is still a project while Terrell Lewis and Rasheem Green are veteran rotational edge rushers.

That means general manager Ryan Poles will need to use his significant amount of cap space next offseason to try to sign Nick Bosa. Bosa will most likely be signed to an extension or have the franchise tag placed on him.

That means the best route to improve at edge rusher in the long term is using one of the team’s two first-round picks. Poles could also try to address edge rusher on Day 2 of the draft as he did at defensive tackle in this year’s draft.

College football’s Week 1 is fast approaching. There are three Pac-12 pass rushers to watch this season especially if you are staying up late to catch the conference’s swan song.

Laiatu Latu is Pro Football Focus’ second-best edge rushing prospect. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler lists him as the fifth-best and NFLdraftbuzz.com has him ranked seventh.

Latu transferred to UCLA last season after playing at Washington. Latu’s career was nearly over after a neck injury caused him to miss the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

He came back and wreaked havoc with 10.5 sacks for the Bruins last season.

Latu was a game-wrecker in the Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh.

Latu has a good variety of pass-rushing moves along with good length. He will need to get stronger, and his injury history will always be a cause for concern.

The Chicago Bears need a game-wrecking pass rusher and Latu has that ability.

According to PFF, Bralen Trice is ranked sixth among edge rushing prospects. NFLdraftbuzz.com has him ranked third.

This is a guy who can pressure the quarterback.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1598498938666901504?s=20

He had nine sacks and 12 tackles for losses last season for Washington.

Trice has good strength but is not explosive for an edge rusher. He has a great motor although he struggles against the run.

He won the Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP with two sacks against Texas. The Chicago Bears could use a productive edge rusher like him.

PFF ranks Brandon Dorlus seventh among edge rushing prospects. NFLdraftbuzz.com ranks him ninth.

He is a bigger defensive end as Dorlus is listed at 290 pounds. The Chicago Bears do like versatility. He might be a better three-technique defensive tackle than pass pass-rushing specialist.

Dorlus has played in 27 games the past two seasons and had 9.5 tackles for losses in 2022.

Quarterbacks feel his presence with the amount of pressure he applies.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1668749335931293697?s=20

He has the length the Bears like but he is a tweener at the next level. Dorlus might be a better fit for a 3-4 front than a 4-3 front.