Dennis Allen Just Made His First Notable Change To Bears Defense

Nobody disputes that the Chicago Bears have a talented defense. However, the arrival of Dennis Allen as the new defensive coordinator almost guaranteed changes. His philosophies are not the same as Matt Eberflus's. While reports indicated the secondary was largely set, expecting changes on the front seven might be wise. Sure enough, the first domino fell shortly after that came to light. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Bears won't be tendering restricted free agent Jack Sanborn.

The former undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin had been the team's reliable presence at Sam linebacker for the past two years. This included 100 tackles, an interception, 2.5 sacks, and five passes defended across 34 games with 13 starts. His steadiness was always welcome. Unfortunately, his athletic limitations likely made him expendable in Allen's eyes. The new coordinator has a history of preferring linebackers with range and ability to attack the line of scrimmage. That was never Sanborn's strength.

Dennis Allen must be trusted.

As beloved as Sanborn was by fans, the fact is he isn't a star. Retaining because of fan adoration is not the right way to conduct business. There must be room for Dennis Allen to assemble the pieces he thinks are necessary to produce a top 10 defense. If that means changes at linebacker, so be it. One thing is certain. Sanborn's exit raises questions about the futures of Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. While both have much better athletic profiles, that doesn't mean they're natural fits for what Allen wants to do. A safe assumption is they will both be retained this year as other positions are addressed.

After that, things will get interesting. Don't be surprised if the Bears go hunting for linebacker depth in the draft. There will be quality options. Free agency may also yield some opportunities.