Chicago Bears Have Eyes For Mammoth DT In 2024 Draft

The Chicago Bears have lots of work ahead of them after the 2023 season. It is evident they are trending in the right direction. GM Ryan Poles has assembled a young, athletic, and aggressive roster on both sides of the ball. The defense has rapidly improved since ranking dead last a season ago. On offense, they are much better at controlling the trenches and have added more firepower. Most conversations will center on what they do at quarterback. However, Poles has a far bigger responsibility than that.

His job is adding talent at every position, even ones that may or may not seem set. For example, the Bears selected three defensive tackles in the 2023 draft, headlined by Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. Does that mean they will ignore that position next spring? Not at all. According to a source, one notable name has a lot of fans inside Halas Hall. That is Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat. Many evaluators consider him the best nose tackle in the country. Not only is he huge (340 lbs) and powerful, but he's surprisingly quick and athletic.

The Chicago Bears' interest in Sweat is understandable.

Andrew Billings has become their reliable presence at nose tackle. It is why he earned a contract extension. That said, he will turn 29 years old in 2024. With bigger players, it is hard to tell when a decline is coming. The smart thing for the Bears is finding somebody who can be his long-term replacement. Sweat fits that profile perfectly. He's a taller, longer version of Billings. He might be more athletic, too. He likely won't be much of an interior pass rusher, but he will command extra attention from blockers.

Nobody should be surprised by this. Poles has demonstrated since he took over that he covets linemen with three key traits: size, power, and athleticism. Sweat checks all three boxes. Current projections have him going somewhere in the late 2nd or 3rd round. Much of it will depend on how well he tests during the pre-draft process. There is no question he would make the Chicago Bears defensive line tougher to deal with. He and Dexter would be a sight nobody wants to see.