The Chicago Bears didn’t waste any time upgrading the talent along the defensive line this offseason.
Signing Grady Jarrett and then rounding back by agreeing to terms with edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo were the kind of moves that can create instant disruption up front for coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense while adding a steady veteran presence from a leadership standpoint, as well.
But, as the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the Bears might not be done bolstering the defensive line, in hopes of closing the gap on the likes of Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions’ explosive offense and Jordan Love’s Green Bay Packers in the NFC North alone.
Tonka Hemingway could be on Chicago Bears’ NFL Draft radar
Pro Football Focus NFL analyst Mason Cameron put together a list of each team’s ideal Day 3 target during the upcoming draft, including the Bears emerging with South Carolina defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway.
“Chicago attempted to address its interior by adding Grady Jarrett in free agency,” Cameron writes for PFF. “But, the front office could allocate more attention to the position in the draft’s later rounds. Hemingway profiles as a rotational interior pass rusher, and while his overall metrics are middling, he dominated the Shrine Bowl with a 91.3 PFF pass-rush grade across practice and the game.”
Hemingway, 6-foot-3 and 288 pounds is a wrecking ball along the interior, and last season posted 25 total tackles with four sacks, underscoring his ability to create interior pressure on the quarterback.
“‘Tweener’ type,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein writes of Hemingway. “With good athletic ability but limitations on how he can be played. The former defensive end displayed enough quickness and lateral movement to flash for the South Carolina defense. Hemingway will need to align as a 4i (inside shoulder of OT) or five-technique as he simply doesn’t have the strength to leverage his gaps as a run defender inside.”
Taking Hemingway could be a bet on the future at the position while contributing meaningful snaps as part of a rotation with Jarrett.
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