​Ben Johnson ought to be sweating buckets about Bears’ defense, originally published by The Sporting News. Be sure to add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Johnson lifted the Chicago Bears to a higher plane during the 2025-26 season, and that achievement deserves celebration. Yet, the team didn’t seal the deal and reach the Super Bowl. It would have been wild for the Bears to contend for the championship in Johnson’s first year with the club, but don’t let him hear you say that—the ambition is precisely what drives him.
So, Johnson has stepped forward in the NFL’s offseason, reshaping the roster and injecting fresh energy into the lineup. Still, a crucial piece remains missing. The Bears lack a superstar edge rusher, and in today’s league—where edge pressure often determines outcomes—that gap is a real concern. The edge rusher sits at the core of any stout defense. He harasses the quarterback, disrupts plays before they fully form, and teams with elite rushers tend to boast strong defenses overall.
Despite Johnson’s impact, the Bears still don’t boast a true star at that position. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released a rankings tally of the NFL’s top 10 edge rushers, derived from votes by executives, coaches, and scouts—those who truly know the players. The Bears did not crack the top 10, nor did they receive any honorable mentions, which is troubling for a defense that needs a reliable pressure creator. The issue is amplified because two NFC North rivals did earn spots in the list: Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers at No. 2 and Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions at No. 5.
Last season, the Bears finished atop the NFC North, but that position is far harder to defend when facing Parsons and Hutchinson without a comparable answer on their own roster. Johnson has repeatedly shown that underestimating him would be a mistake, so anything remains possible, yet the lack of a premier edge threat looms as a worrisome sign for Chicago.
In other NFL developments: Tom Brady criticized the Raiders after their disappointing 2025 season, urging improvement across the board. George Kittle of the 49ers issued a warning to teams showing interest in Brandon Aiyuk. There is speculation about a potential cut for an All-Pro defender in Pittsburgh. In Denver, Bo Nix offered an encouraging update on his right ankle injury recovery. The New York Giants’ John Harbaugh provided a hopeful update regarding Malik Nabers, aimed at aiding better search engine optimization for the latest coverage.