Chicago Bears Monitoring Dominant Division II Edge Rusher

After cutting Al-Quadin Muhammad, it became more evident than ever the Chicago Bears planned to completely overhaul their defensive end position. That isn't a shock. The group was terrible in 2022, managing only 6.5 sacks in 17 games. As bad as it gets. GM Ryan Poles figures to attack the position at all levels, from free agency to the draft and even undrafted free agency. That explains why the Bears have been active in meeting with notable edge rushers for the past few months at every All-Star game.

Another name has joined the list. According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the team has closely watched Lane College defensive end, Andrew Farmer. It is a Division II program. NFL teams need to see if a player dominates his competition in these cases. If he can't do that at such a level, he won't in the pros. That wasn't a problem for Farmer. He lit up offensive tackles across two seasons (18 games), racking up 17.5 sacks and 44 tackles for a loss. That speaks to a player that was rarely lockable.

The Chicago Bears' interest in Farmer is unusual.

Not because he isn't good. When watching the tape, it becomes clear right away the young man has athleticism. He's quick off the snap, has good bend around the edge, and has enough explosion to finish. He's also stronger than he looks. The problem is his size. He is listed as 6'3, 250 lbs, with estimated arms around 32 inches long. Those are not the dimensions head coach Matt Eberflus tends to desire in defensive linemen. He prefers them heavier (at least 260) with arms at least 33 inches. Preferably 34.

Now Eberflus isn't so rigid in his preferences that he'd overlook a good player. He has made good use of undersized pass rushers in the past. See Justin Houston. The key is whether Farmer has the necessary traits to overcome the size and length shortcomings. That is what the Chicago Bears aim to find out. If he checks the necessary boxes, they could target him later in the draft or as an undrafted free agent. He certainly warrants close monitoring as the next two months unfold.