The Chicago Bears have made plenty of moves as they look to improve from their 5-12 campaign a year ago. Ben Johnson replaced Matt Eberflus as head coach and several additions were made to help second-year quarterback Caleb Williams out. While the staff was overhauled, so was the interior of the offensive line with Joe Thuney, Jonah Williams and Drew Dalman tasked with keeping Williams upright.
A lot has been made about the Bears offense, but the defense also needs some attention. Chicago’s 25.1% pressure rate ranked seventh in the NFL last season. But their 40 sacks ranked in the middle of the pack at 16th.
The Bears added Grady Jarrett, Dayo Odeyingbo and second-round pick Shemar Turner to help close that gap this offseason, but another pass rusher could be on the way out as Chicago looks to get after the quarterback more in 2025.
Bears Draft Pick Dominique Robinson is Cut Candidate Ahead of OTAs
The Bears didn’t make a ton of moves on the edge but it could be enough to shove 2022 draft pick Dominique Robinson out the door. Robinson was a fifth-round pick by the Bears out of Miami (Ohio) and started seven games in his rookie season, notching 30 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and two pass defenses. But his playing time has decreased in each of the past two seasons including 84 snaps last season.
The reasoning lies in the metrics. Robinson was on the field for 549 snaps during his rookie year and managed 15 quarterback pressures on 284 pass-rushing snaps according to Pro Football Focus. But he also had flaws to his game, including a 15.6% missed tackle rate and a 39.5 grade in run defense.
Robinson’s play got worse in his sophomore season, posting an overall PFF grade of 35.3, yet he made the roster again likely because of his role on special teams. Robinson posted a 72.2 grade on 63 special teams snaps last season, though it may not be enough with one more edge rusher on the roster.
Perhaps Robinson’s special teams experience will be enough to keep him on the Bears roster. But the new coaching staff led by Johnson could be looking to make a change to the group. Either way, OTAs will be extremely important for the 26-year-old as he looks to continue his NFL career next season.