I said a couple of months ago to pay attention to the times GM Ryan Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham appear at college games together. That is a significant indication of what they might be planning for the upcoming draft. A game between Clemson and Syracuse that they attended in 2022 featured a host of talented defensive tackles. They ended up drafting two the following spring in Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. In 2024, they attended the game between Texas A&M and Notre Dame, which featured a heavy wealth of defensive line talent. They selected Aggies defensive tackle Shemar Turner in the 2nd round.
Pay close attention when those two are together.
It appears we have an update on that. According to multiple sources, Poles and Cunningham surfaced in Champaign for the Big Ten showdown between Illinois and Ohio State. It doesn't take long to recognize where the wealth of talent will be concentrated in this game. Four defensive linemen are considered top 150 prospects, with two of them early favorites to go in the first two rounds.
- EDGE Gabe Jacas (Illinois)
- DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)
- EDGE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (Ohio State)
- EDGE Caden Curry (Ohio State)
It's no secret that the Bears' defensive line has underperformed through the first month of the season. Targeting the area early in the draft is often the obvious response.
Ryan Poles is undoubtedly looking for a sign.
The Bears need pass rush help in the worst way, but their run defense is among the worst in the league. It makes sense they'd target somebody who can hold the point of attack and command double teams. McDonald fits that profile at 6'3, 326 lbs. He's stout, powerful, and aggressive. He already has three sacks in five games, too, so his pass rush skills are hardly anything to overlook.
Curry has been the most productive of the group, collecting five sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss. He has good enough size, but teams will worry about his shorter-than-average arms. He's made up for that with good technique and a relentless motor. Jackson will likely be the player Dennis Allen watches closely. He's 6'6 and 265 lbs with long arms and tremendous athleticism for his size. The problem is this hasn't translated to production so far, with only one sack in five games this year.
As for Jacas, he's got the body of a defensive end but is on the shorter side. He's relentless, strong, intelligent, and more explosive than he gets credit for. His four sacks in five games put him on pace for one of the best seasons in program history. It isn't hard to see why Ryan Poles is there. The wealth of talent up front is unmistakable.
