Bears D-line gets poor ranking ahead of 2024 season
The Chicago Bears have been lauded for much of their offseason work, but the team still has some perceived weaknesses.
Tuesday, Pro Football Focus released its NFL defensive line rankings and ranked the Bears just outside the bottom-five at 27th overall. That’s third in the NFC North.
PFF says the team’s acquisition of Montez Sweat ahead of last year’s trade deadline helped the group “massively.” However, outside of Sweat, the team is relying heavily on improvement from Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens.
Sweat had 64 quarterback pressures last season by himself, according to PFF, which rated his 2023 performance as the 33rd-best among all edge rushers.
On the interior, Andrew Billings had the Bears’ highest-rated performance, per PFF, coming in at 42nd. Pickens ranked 83rd, DeMarcus Walker rated 84th and Dexter was 101st.
PFF has thought more highly of much of the rest of Chicago’s roster, including the wide receiver room, which it rated as a top-five unit.
Jamie Sabau Photo / USA TODAY