One thing that became clear during his long run in the NFL is that Dennis Allen has a good eye for edge rushers. He was with the Broncos and Raiders when they drafted Von Miller and Khalil Mack, respectively. Then, in New Orleans, he played a key role in the drafting of Trey Hendrickson. One can imagine he already has been doing research on the 2025 draft class with the anticipation of landing a defensive coordinator job somewhere. It can't be a coincidence that a prominent name surfaced right after Allen was hired.
According to Jordan Sigler of ChiCity Sports, the Bears have kept close tabs on Ole Miss edge rusher Princely Umanmielen, recently meeting him at the Senior Bowl.
Ole Miss defensive end Princely Umanmielen has been a standout during practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. The six-foot-five, 255-pound pass rusher has shown great technique in getting past offensive tackles this week.
Umanmielen confirmed to CCS that he met with the Bears in Mobile. The native of Manor, Texas, said his meeting with Chicago went well.
Umanmielen prefers to play defensive end but said he believes he has the versatility to play defensive tackle in certain packages. (The Bears used DeMarcus Walker in that role in former head coach Matt Eberflus’ system.)
This stands out for a couple of reasons.
People will argue teams meet with every prospect at the Senior Bowl. How is Umanmielen different? For one, he meets the exact criteria Allen prefers in edge rushers. He's big, long, explosive, and was highly productive in college. Most pass rushers taken during his stints as a coordinator or head coach had at least 20 sacks in college. Umanmielen had 25.5.
Dennis Allen already has extensive info on Umanmielen.
How? Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter was teammates with him for three years at Florida. The two were close. It is likely the team scouts and new coaches have already gotten a detailed description of the type of player Umanmielen is. He's earned comparisons to names like Danielle Hunter, Brian Burns, and Arnold Ebiketie. Allen went against Ebiketie and the Falcons for three years while head coach of the Saints. So if he sees the same traits in Umanmielen, it would further explain the Bears' interest.
Initial projections had him going in the 2nd round this April, but it's possible a strong showing at the Senior Bowl and good athletic testing at the scouting combine will push him into the 1st round. Could he be an option for the Bears at #10? Some will argue that is too early. However, his physical talent and productivity warrant a conversation. If Dennis Allen believes he can help transform the defense into a juggernaut, then there is every reason to consider that possibility.
