Chicago Bears fans should be thankful for these 5 players on defense

“Tis the season to be thankful, right?

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I looked at five Chicago Bears players on both sides of the ball who warrant extra appreciation despite the team’s 3-8 record.

We covered the offense here.

It’s time to flip to the defense, where head coach Matt Eberflus has the Bears trending in the right direction. Sure, the final four minutes of Week 11’s meltdown against the Detroit Lions left a sour taste in Bears fans” mouths, but if we’re being honest, Chicago’s defense has been strong … especially against the run.

The Bears rank No. 2 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (79.5) and No. 7 in rushing touchdowns allowed (6).

Unfortunately, the Bears have struggled to stop the pass. They’re still 32nd in the league in sacks (15), and they’re almost dead last .. 31st … in passing touchdowns allowed (22). Chicago’s giving up a lot of points, too. They’re 29th in the NFL, surrendering 26 points per game.

Still, it’s not all bad. There’s talent on this defense, and Bears fans should feel confident that this group will only get better the longer they play together.

Here are five Chicago Bears defenders who’ve earned Pro Football Focus’ highest grade through 11 games (min. seven games).

CB Jaylon Johnson (86.5)

Johnson is playing well this season, and the timing couldn’t be better for him. He’s on an expiring contract and wants to get paid like one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. While he’s still struggling to make that game-changing interception (see Week 11 vs. Lions), there’s no denying he’s one of the more reliable coverage cornerbacks in the league.GM Ryan Poles has to show a willingness to reward his best players with big paydays, starting with Johnson.

Jaylon Johnson’s appeared in nine games and has 21 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and five passes defended.

LB TJ Edwards (82.7)

Edwards has been the Bears’ best free-agent signing, and it isn’t particularly close. He leads the NFL in tackles with 121, even ahead of former Bears and current Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith.

Yeah, Edwards has been a tackling machine.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Edwards who broke the bank with the Bears last offseason. That distinction belongs to fellow linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. The on-field results haven’t been close, Edwards is the better player, and he’s restored some of the Chicago Bears’ lure at the position.

CB Kyler Gordon (67.4)

Spider-Man has lived up to his nickname this year, even in limited action. A hand injury forced Gordon to have an early-season stint on injured reserve, but he’s been fantastic in the seven games he’s played. He’s sixth on the Bears in tackles despite missing four weeks, and while he hasn’t forced a turnover this season, he’s improved in both coverage and run defense in Year 2.

Gordon’s emergence could lead to the Bears letting Jaylon Johnson depart in free agency, leaving Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson in charge of coverage duties in 2024.

DL Andrew Billings (67.0)

Billings has been a solid player since Week 1. He’s been so good that the Chicago Bears rewarded him with a two-year, $8 million contract extension.

Billings doesn’t make many splash plays, and that’s OK. He’s a wide-bodied run defender who’s tough to move off his spot. He’s one of the biggest reasons Chicago’s run defense has been so good this year.

DL DeMarcus Walker (62.7)

Walker is the third defender on this list who was added in free agency this year, not bad, Ryan Poles. Not bad.

To be fair, Walker hasn’t been great. He’s been sort of invisible. But his lack of production has been a product of playing out of position. Walker is better suited as an interior defender who rushes the passer from the inside. He needs more reps in the trenches.

Still, Walker has the Bears’ seventh-highest pass-rush grade for defenders who’ve played at least nine games. He’s a good all-around player, even if his stat sheet doesn’t suggest it.

Other notable grades

DE Montez Sweat (64.7)

Sweat hasn’t been with the Bears long, but his impact is already being felt. He’s the best player on Chicago’s defense and will be for a long time. Sweat signed a four-year, $98 million deal with the Bears shortly after the blockbuster trade-deadline move, and he’ll be worth every penny he’s paid.

CB Terell Smith (71.5)

Smith was one of the stars of training camp, but a midseason illness has limited his impact during the regular season. He’s been solid when given a chance to play, especially in run defense, where he boasts an elite 90.3 grade.

Hey, Bears Fans: We’re running a Black Friday deal on our subscription packages. Enter “BearsTalk50” to receive 50% off the monthly and yearly subscriptions. You’ll get an ad-free Bears Talk, unlock all comment and engagement features, and access all of our 2024 NFL Draft premium content (coming soon). Offer expires on Nov. 27. See Below!