Ryan Poles describes what the Bears are looking for on defense

After several departures on defense this offseason, the Chicago Bears have plenty of draft capital to fill in the voids as they look to build off their success in the 2025 season. Having lost notable names such as safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, cornerback Nahshon Wright and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, the Bears have made their intentions known that they have a specific plan for the defense and want to find the right players that have the skill set that matches their defensive identity. During the NFL owners meeting last week, general manager Ryan Poles discussed what he's looking for when it comes to adding defense, and how he plans to attack that strategy during the 2026 NFL Draft.

Speed and violence were the two main words mentioned by Poles as what he's looking for to add to Dennis Allen's defense, looking to build off of Allen's history of successful defenses. "If you go back to teams that D. A.

has had, specifically the defenses in New Orleans, there’s an aggressiveness, there’s a violence and there’s a speed that they play with,” Poles said, via Chicago Sun-Times . “So we’re trying to match that. That’s part of our evaluation process with the rookie class — prioritizing the guys that fit perfectly or that kind of borderline fit and need some development.

And then we really try to push aside the guys that don’t fit. " Poles added that with their first-round pick being lower than recent memory, it makes things tricky for looking to add an edge rusher, where he feels things get more difficult as the draft continues along. There's a clear vision by the front office and coaching staff and the players they want to mold their defense, with many changes being made to the roster, there will be plenty of room for opportunities on defense.