A Scout’s Take on the 2024 Chicago Bears defensive tackles

Greg Gabriel is going position by position to see where the Bears stand this offseason, and next up are the defensive tackles.

In the Chicago Bears' defensive scheme, both the defensive tackles and defensive ends share equal importance. They run a 1-gap scheme where the defensive linemen must get penetration to disrupt the run game and obviously be able to rush the passer. Players who fit in this scheme must be athletic with quickness, speed, and agility. The players who don’t fit the scheme are the big 330 – 340 pound 2-gappers who take on blockers and hold the point of attack like in many 3-4 schemes.

All the defensive tackles on the Chicago Bears roster have a high degree of athleticism. What is a little different from when I worked with this scheme under Lovie Smith is that the defensive tackles now under Coach Flus are a little bigger.

Going back to the mid-2000s when the Bears ran this scheme, the starting defensive tackles were Tommie Harris at the 3-Technique position and Anthony ‘Spice” Adams at the 1-Tech. Harris played in the low 290s and was very quick and fast. He had a time coming out of college of 4.68 in the 40. Adams played at around 300 most of his career with the Bears and was ultra-quick and instinctive. While we did play some rotation, we didn’t rotate anywhere close to how much NFL clubs use a DLine rotation now. It’s imperative that there are four defensive tackles that the team can count on to make plays.

The veteran leader of the defensive tackle group for the Bears is 1-Tech Andrew Billings. Billings is now in his eighth year in the League and is the perfect player to play the 1-Tech. While Andrew is listed as being 6’1 – 311, I can guarantee he’s bigger. He’s probably in the low 320s, but that does not hurt his quickness. He has excellent snap reaction and a very quick first step.

One thing Billings has is great strength. He is probably one of the stronger players in the League. When Andrew was in High School, he was the Texas State Powerlifting Champion with lifts of 805 pounds on the squat, 500 pound bench and a 705 pound dead lift. He was lifting that amount as an 18-year-old!

Billings can consistently get penetration and can also occupy blockers if that is what he is asked to do on a given play. He will never be a great pass rusher, as that is not his game, but he is above average and can push the pocket. He is usually out of the game in obvious passing situations. His job is to stuff the run, and he’s very good at it.

Last year, the all-important 3-Tech was Justin Jones. Jones had his best year as a pro, with 49 total tackles and 4.5 sacks. Since last year was a contract year for Justin, he got handsomely paid as a free agent and is now with the Arizona Cardinals.

Second-year man Gervon Dexter will replace Jones as the starter at the 3-Tech. Dexter played in a 2-Gap scheme in college and was never asked to do what the Bears ask their defensive tackles to do. He basically had to re-learn how to play the defensive tackle position. As was expected, he started slowly but came on strong in the last third of the season. In his last five games, he recorded 8.0 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. With a strong off-season to prepare, he is ready to become the lead guy. What may be even more impressive is that he is still just 22 years old and doesn’t turn 23 until after the fourth game of the season. He is still just scratching the surface of how talented he can be.

Dexter is a huge man at 6055 – 310, and he ran a 4.88 while at that size. That is remarkable speed, along with excellent quickness. One area he needs to improve on is keeping his pad level low. He got better as the season went on last year, and I expect he will be playing low like he did at the end of 2023.

With his natural talent and with a year under his belt learning the scheme, he is ready to have a breakout year in 2024. While it is hard for an inside defensive lineman to get double-digit sacks, it would not surprise me to see him record around 8.0 sacks this season. Add to that his improved run support, and he could very well be a big-time player for the Bears in 2024.

Last year, third-round pick Zacch Pickens played the 1-Tech backing up Billings. Looking at Pickens coming out of South Carolina, he really is a pure 3-Tech. He has excellent 3-Tech size and speed (6037 – 300, 4.89) while also being very explosive (30.5” vertical, 9’4.5” long jump). He showed he had the strength and power to play at the 1-Tech position, but with his athletic traits, it wouldn’t surprise me that he becomes the main backup at both defensive tackle positions this season.

In many games last year, the Bears liked to dress seven defensive linemen and if Pickens can show he can play both positions, that will allow the Bears to dress seven again this season.

I really like Pickens’ traits and thought he played well as a rookie. Like Dexter, I am expecting Pickens to make a big jump in productivity this season.

The battle for the fourth defensive tackle position will be an interesting competition come training camp. The Bears signed Byron Cowart during free agency, and he could be a solid addition. Cowart is a natural 1-Tech in the Bears scheme and has shown that when he is on his game, he can be a very solid player. The problem is that Byron has had an up-and-down career, and his best play came when he was with New England during his first two seasons in the League. He is going to have to play like he did then to make this Bears team.

An interesting undrafted free agent is Keith Randolph. Randoph has good size (6035 – 300) to play the 1-Tech as well as good quickness, change of direction and strength. The 2022 season was his best at Illinois when he produced 53 total tackles and 4.5 sacks. His production dropped a little in 2023, with 49 total tackles but only 1.5 sacks. He also had 4.0 sacks in 2021. I felt he was a good Day-3 pick as a prospect, but his drop in production may be the main reason he went undrafted. Regardless, he is talented and will strongly challenge to make this squad.

One other name I want to mention with the defensive tackle group is defensive end DeMarcus Walker. Walker has played both inside and outside during his career. His best year as a pass rusher was 2022 when he was with Tennessee, and most of his sack production came while lining up inside.

Walker can be a swing man in the Bears defense where he can play end on run downs and move inside to defensive tackle in passing situations. With Walker being able to do that, the idea of dressing just seven DLinemen on game day becomes easier.

Overall, this is a good group but young. The only real vet is Billings unless we include Walker. That said, the young guys are loaded with talent and will help this position group play at a high level.