Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Can the Bears overhaul their defensive line as well as they did their offensive line in 2025?

Episode Date: February 25, 2026

Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris wondered if the Bears can overhaul their defensive line this offseason as well as they did their offensive line in 2025.

This hour is brought to you by Menards. Save big money at Menards. Some people like Chris Emma. That's the open. That's the entire open for Chris Emma from the Combine. Marshall's baritone makes me laugh. And so did that. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043 The Score.

Let's go live to the Combine in Indianapolis. He joins us on Twitch. Twitch.tv slash the score Chicago. Chris Emma. How are you? What's up? How are we doing? We got obsessed with the Ben Johnson no cough,

sound bite, laugh, noise from yesterday. And then that's where Grody took it. It devolved into also using it to other words. So I'm wondering how that happens. That was Grody doing the Ben Johnson no, doing the phrase some people like Chris Emma. That's right. Yeah, I enjoyed Ben loosening up a little bit yesterday.

He was so locked in during the push for the playoffs. and ultimately getting there in January. And he just, he was so focused and intense. And just every time he stepped up to the podium, it was just, you felt that. So he came here to Indianapolis feeling loose and feeling like himself again. Chris, we want to start with the breaking news that just happened that was reported. Brad Biggs reporting it earlier this afternoon. Tremaine Edmund's been given permission to seek a trade.

What can you tell us about this info? Yeah, not surprised by that at all. We heard from Ryan polls yesterday talking. He was asked about four different players who are cap casualty candidates. And Tremaine Emmons, DeAndre Swift, Colquette, DJ Moore, all in different circumstances here. He loosely committed to D.Andre Swift, along with Cole Commet, being back on this team, asked specifically about DJ Moore, along with Tremant, said, we got to see different options. And the term he used was the best combination of players, which is obviously referencing the salary cap.

And they got to make a decision. I think it's been pretty clear that they intend to release Tremend. Edmonds if they don't trade him, but this is a last resort. And ultimately, the lead doesn't bluff on this. The league understands that he's going to be available in the next couple weeks, and you can sign him as a free agent. So it's probably an earnest attempt to see if Tremaine can find a suitor and if the Bears will be speaking to teams as well.

But I think ultimately this will end with a release. And we know that it's a big deal that the linebacker situation is going to be one in question between now and start a training camp because obviously with what happened with the injury to T.J. Edwards and now Tremaine Edmins isn't going to be there. It seems like a complete reset at the linebacker position. But similarly, they've got things they need to figure out

on that defensive line. What have you been able to, I guess, kind of understand from their perspective about how they're approaching making that defensive line better? Yeah, my theory or idea has been pretty loosely that you can just replicate what you did on the offensive line. line and the defensive line and bringing three, four, five new guys who really bolster that group. And I know all the talk has been about Max Krosby and Miles Garrett and all the superstar feature

Hall of Fame names, but they need quantity just as much as those top tier guys. And I asked Ryan Poles about this idea yesterday. You're going to hear from Ryan Poles along with Ben Johnson about their plan and their vision for the defensive line. So starting with Ryan Poles, can you overhaul this group the way you did with the offensive line? Yeah, I think it's always possible. things got to come together. That mindset was there from the day I walked in.

But those opportunities, the clarity that we needed wasn't all there. So we were able to capitalize on some cool situations there through trade and for agency. I'm not sure how that's all going to line up now. I know from a cap perspective, we probably don't have enough to make all of that work on the defensive line. I do think on our D-line, I think there are some situations, mostly injury, that didn't allow that to really come together the way it was supposed to. So I look forward to that happening, but we're also going to have to continue to bring a challenge into create competition so that our defense can take the next step.

Yeah, motor relentlessness, violence, explosive. And then I just want to continue to improve our defensive speed. I think we saw that a little bit, Green Bay and some of the games on the stretch. I want to improve our defensive speed overall. So those are some of the factors. Yeah, well, we're still going through that process right now. now just free agency. There's some guys out there that we feel like could help us out. We certainly feel good about some of the guys that we currently have in the building that they'll continue

to ascend and take the coaching that, you know, DA and the defensive staff are providing for them. But, you know, for us to take the next step as a defense, we do need to pressure the quarterback and the more consistent clip. And so that is a point of emphasis for us. I do think this draft does have some guys that could possibly help us out in that regard. But that'll be something that we've got to look at, and it will be a point of emphasis when we come back in the springtime, just how do we increase our get-off to where we can put more pressure on the queue? Yeah, we just need good football players all across the board.

And so as far as I'm concerned, I don't mind so much. If that's the interior rush, oh, sure, we'll take it. If that's the guy that's on the edge fits the bill, sure, we'll take that as well. But I'm not going to pigeonhole us in saying that we have to build this roster. or but but Ryan's not going to do the same thing either. You know, we just want to find some really good football players that love to play the game, that love to compete, that want to win football games, and we'll figure it out from there. I love the fact that they seem to be aligned if nothing else.

I mean, why would they not be? But I am very much concerned about this idea that they can just go and not just through the draft, but free agency figure out how to replace the defense. offensive line and that they're depending on players who are hurt right now. Yeah. That's the biggest issue. Yeah. And one of my key takeaways was Poles kind of shocked back at my idea of needing to overhaul

this group, saying, and he said this in a later session of, well, Austin Booker wasn't fully healthy last season. Let him be the guy you saw late in the season. And obviously, the unfortunate step back with Diobo. And you were just dealing with injuries across the board there where they weren't really able to form that group. And Poles was like, basically, look, what we tried to build this thing the last couple the years and thought we had that core in place and the injuries were really the big setback.

So what you're understanding now is that they're trusting this group is going to really come together if healthy, but obviously they need reinforcements too. And they did not get enough off the edge. Montes Sweat needs a proper tandem. You need big run stuffing defensive tackles. And you need guys who can defend the run, who can bull rush right through the A gap and create pressure that way. You need those guys all the way through this defensive line because defense force turnovers.

you have a talented secondary. You've got a linebacking group you believe can play to Dennis Allen's style. But the lack of a rush and the lack of a defense line stability really came back to hurt this team. Well, and that's why when Marshall and I looked at each other with an expression, Chris, when we heard you say possibly five people, you know, in that unit. I don't know how they get from point A to B. I mean, is it drafting nothing but defensive players? You know, like what's the likelihood of that happening, knowing that left tackle is still somewhat of a concern as we

heard Ben Johnson say. You know, each of the last two years, the Super Bowl champion, the Seahawks and the Eagles, both won in large part because of dominant defensive fronts and defenses that were able to create pressure, especially on the biggest stage, getting after Drake May, getting after Patrick Mahomes's last two Super Bowles. Neither of those teams had a player in double-digit sacks. They didn't have that Max Crosby, that Miles Garrett or that T.J. Watt, that dominant player off the edge who just racks up the sack totals.

The Seahawks were led by two players with seven and a half sacks, I believe it was. The Eagles had a leader with eight sacks the year before. So the idea is they had quantity. They had so many different guys, both interior and edge who can get after you. They had five, six different guys. They had a dominant rotation where you weren't relying on one player to get home, though the way the bears have relied on Montes-Swed far too often. These teams, these Super Bowl champions are the last two,

have had those guys deep in the rotation. You can just keep running them out. And late in the fourth quarter, when the other team's tired, these guys are fresh because you've got that proper. rotation to keep rushing and to keep creating pressure. And that's how you tire these teams out. That's how you win defensively and play that kind of proper, complimentary football that the bears have been lacking.

So that's the mold. And I know it's exciting to thank you about a Max Cross if you're something like that. And if you can pull off that trade, by all means, if it makes sense, go ahead. But you need quantity as well. And that's what's been missing for this group. Okay. Chris Emmett joining us from the Combine in Indianapolis. Of course, he reports on the Bears here for 104-3, the score.

I understand you talked to some prospects today, Chris. Yeah, you start to think about that pick number 25. And it's not the most exciting term, but best player available is probably what you're looking at. Maybe it's a tackle. Maybe it's something else followed you. But this draft is deep with defensive lineman. And that works out beautifully for the Bears in this case. So there's a few different guys who really caught my attention.

I talked to two of them. We're going to start with a defensive tackle who really is intriguing to me. That's Katie McDonald out of Ohio State. three sacks last season, 65 tackles. This is an active player to the football. He's constantly getting to the ball. Disrupted player in the running game. This is somebody who really does bullies through offensive lines.

If you follow Melkuyper Jr., he's got Cady McDonnell mock to the Bears in this spot. The comp from NFL Network is DJ Reeder for a Cada McDonald. Here's some Cady McDonald. Get to know this young prospect. You know, on early downs, I can stop the running on third downs. I can't push the pocket. and I'm a complete player. I'll say my preparation.

I believe I'm the best defensive tackle in this draft class. I really pride myself on being consistent, you know, competitive, holding my teammates accountable. And I put it all together, you know, working on my diet. And just staying consistent, really, just doing what I got to do. I'll say my power, you know, having violent hands. I'm that guy I'm strong in the middle. My high school coach said being a war daddy, being that guy in the middle,

to stopping everything, being disruptive on all downs. Like I said, I've been playing this game since I was four years old, and this is what I want to do. And, like, I want to surround myself around good people and just do good things for my team and just win Super Bowls. Yes, I'll say I've modeled my game around physical detackles that are, like, strong in the middle. I really don't have a specific player,

just guys that know how to penetrate, be game changers. I'll say looking at the personnel down the distance and you know I'm that type of guy I know I welcome double teams I command double teams and I'm going to free up the linebackers and whoever team decides to get me that's what you're going to get Kay McDonald using my favorite term violent anybody describing themselves as violent on defense

I'm good with that and then a new term that I hadn't added to my lexicon war daddy in the middle I thought that you were going to say that was your favorite no I just I need I need more violence from my defense of line than what was offered to me last year watching Bears games. How about that? Agreed? I mean, look, we've been talking for years now, but there's trying to find that, that dominant defensive tackle, and they've got some good, but not enough great. Like, Dervon Dexter has been a good

player, but he's not been that consistently great player. They hope they were getting. They've been looking at this for years, a free agency and the draft. And so you sit here with pick number 25, and Canada McDonnell might be that option for you there. Like, sign me up for that. When you hear the war daddy, that violin, it'd be that. dominant disruptive presence. Like this is a difference maker for that entire defensive front potentially. So an intriguing player to watch as you look toward pick number 25 there. We're talking to Chris Emma, our Bears reporter, who is live at the combine right now in Indianapolis here in Rahimi Harrison Grotium 1043, The Score. Chris is also on Twitch if you want to

see the scene. That is twitch.tv slash the score Chicago. Now we know that other defensive line prospects spoke today as well. What can you tell us about some of the other names that you saw. Well, you heard Ben Johnson say, like, you just want talented football players. It doesn't matter defensive tackle, edge rusher. You just want those disruptive players that play with violence and with speed. And you can make a disruptive difference in a defense. And one of those players who's popped throughout his entire college career,

an option potentially I picked number 25, is Cassius Howell and edge rush her out of Texas A&M. 11 and a half sacks last season, nine and a half two years ago. They come for him from NFL Network is Will McDonald. This is a guy who did it at the highest level of college football and helping his team to that playoff. You saw how dominant that Texas A&M defense looked throughout the course of the season. Cassius Howe is a key part of that. So another guy will see if he's there for the Bears at 25, but there's a lot to like about him.

Let's get to know him. Here's Cassius Howell. You know, I got it's going to come in and work every day be the same guy, every day, bring the same motor, the same energy, the same effort. You know, I feel like I know I hold my hat on, you know, treating every drill, every play, every practice, every rep as it's my last, and I put forth my full effort, so I feel like that's what they would get for me. I feel like my best strength will be, you know, obviously my pass rush ability, and along with that would be, you know, my motor and my effort on play in and play out. A high motor guy, high intensity guy, you know, I try to play with as much violence and as, you know, as controlled as I possibly can.

Yes, sir, you know, after, you know, just being kind of under-recruited, you know, I just always had an inclination within, you know, just the back of my mind and within my conscience that, you know, I could, you know, do this and play at the high level and I'm just blessed to be in his position to be able to have put forth that talents this year. See, these guys know the importance of violence. That's core to me when you're talking about defense and you're trying to make the quarterback or really anyone fear for their lives when they face up against you. One of my favorite parts about these press conferences too. You know, these guys are trying to make an impression. The NFL combat, they've been training to meet with teams, but also to meet with the media. And the very polite way they talk about

trying to destroy somebody in front of them. I love hearing that from Defensive Live. Yes, sir, I want to be violent. I want to just get, I want to be a war. Like, it's great. And you get to know these players and you get a preview of what's happening in these meetings when these teams and like the Bears do meet formally with these prospects.

And I think it's 18 minutes you get with these guys. And you get a sense of the makeup of these players and the personality starts to come out from some of them. Others are more reserved and you hear from some of these players who just aren't really comfortable being themselves. in this kind of setting. But one player I got to talk to, I don't unfortunately have audio for this is Zion Young out of Missouri, who is just a character.

And you really get a sense of this guy is bubbling with personality, but is also ready to beat your teeth in if you're an offensive lineman. And he's a raw prospect, but he's somebody with a ton of potential for the NFL. I wish I could get some audio from him, but he was really impressive. Yeah, just the takeaways from him. And then also, you know, I know he spoke about being Luther Burden's teammate at Missouri too. So that seemed like a good connection there.

Yeah, and you get a reference from Luther Bergen, if you're Ryan Poles and you're exploring Zion Young for pig number 25A. This draft really sets up just beautifully for the Bears. And you talk about the term best player available and matching your needs with the talent and the board. The Bears are going to get

a very talented player who falls to them at 25 who happens to fit a spot on this roster that they're trying to fill. So this is a great situation to be in. And obviously, you want to be at the bottom of the draft. You want to be doing that year after year. And for my perspective, it's nice not sitting here saying,

what are they going to do with the number one pick? Do they need this quarterback? Are they going to trade down to the top 10? Like, you're sitting there at the bottom of the draft feeling really good about your position long term. And this draft sets up favorably to keep reloading the cupboards. He is, Chris Emma. He is the Bears reporter for 104-3, the score.

And he is on with us from Indianapolis side of the NFL Combine, where we're trying to figure out what are the Bears going to do at number 25? as you illustrated, hey, it's good if you're looking for defensive help up front because line, edge, whatever, this is a deep draft class. I'm curious, what do you think that the Bears might be looking for if not that or left tackle at 25? Is there another position you could even envision them taking at 25? Maybe.

Probably not. I would bet pretty strongly on the idea of it being a detackle and edge rush or an offensive tackle. And like I think it just sets up though the way this draft is going to fall to them at 25 and then what they have with those needs. I at this point I'd be surprised if it wasn't that. But you never know. Weird things happen in the draft. So I just, I think it's a great situation for the Bears to be in.

And now if you want to turn it to free agency in a couple weeks too when you talk about it specifically that D line, I mean, you can start looking at some of those veteran addition. Some of these guys have one or two year deal, short term players, whether it's a guy like a Kalil Mack or a Camp Jordan at, toward the end of their career who can be still a productive player and a leader for that group. And then you're not worried about throwing out your camp space and your flexibility moving forward. Ryan Poles is being very cautious. I think that was the tone you took away from yesterday when you heard from Ryan Poles. He does not want to blow up their flexibility. He understands the idea of this window is wide open for them.

They want to pay their young quarterback like a franchise quarterback if he deserves that, which he certainly seems to be on track to be. They understand that this is a long-term thing. This is not a win now go all in window in 2026. I think this is going to be a very kind of quiet offseason, if you will. They got to make some moves to get under the cap, of course. But this is going to be a prudent offseason with the long term in mind. Prasemma, thank you so much for reporting from the combine.

Anything else that you've heard that you want to let us know about? I don't know any NFL discussion that seems to be dominating the day that's more league focused than Bears focused. No, one quick little note. talked about it yesterday. George McCasky and Kevin Warren are both here in Indianapolis. So I think there's kind of wonders. I don't know if they're at the State House. I've encountered both of them here throughout the hallways. So I can say soundly that they are here in Indy and they are part of the Bears Brass. We now go live to State House, Chris Emma, who's across from the Statehouse. So you have seen them, but they haven't spoke.

They've not spoken. I don't believe either of them will. That's my understanding. But they are present and they are part of the Bears brass here. Thank you so much, Chris. We appreciate the time. Are you on with the morning or the afternoon show later today? I don't believe so. Okay. Well, we are happy you were there and thanks for joining with us.

We look forward to your reports throughout the NFL Combine. Thanks, Chris. Take care. That is Chris Emma from Indianapolis. And I've gotten this news on Twitch. This is pretty great. Just wanted to let you know it was my friend's wife who chirped at Ryan Poles at the pool in the Cayman Islands.

This is on Twitch from Manny Dack. I'm reading it. Go ahead. I tried to convince him to call in or have her call, but they don't want to. I do have the screenshots of the text. He sent me Saturday. I knew about it, and as soon as I heard it was Mexico, I said, nah, that was in Cayman. If you missed it, Ryan Poles said that one of the Bears fans came up to him

and the Cayman Islands and asked him about the stadium. I can't stop laughing. Can't escape Bears. talk even when you leave the country on vacation. Man, our Twitch mob, that's where it's at. Between the suggestions for the sleuthing today out of the text and Twitch lines,

I feel like we're really doing a good job with the team reporting efforts. Thanks to everybody involved. Twitch.tv slash the score Chicago 312644-6767 is our number. How about we get a little baseball talk in? There was a massive article that came out in Chicago magazine talking

to Pete Crow Armstrong about many things, including the discussion of a possible extension. So we'll get into that next.