**2025 Senior Bowl Prospects Who Can Strengthen Dennis Allen’s Defense Next Season**

The revamped Chicago Bears’ offense won’t be the only unit with explosive potential. Dennis Allen, a former head coach of the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints, will lead the defense. Although his head coaching experience was not successful, he remains a highly regarded defensive coordinator. Allen hopes to mirror the success of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Allen plans to implement a more aggressive defensive style, which is a promising change for both players and fans who grew frustrated with the passive Tampa-2 scheme previously run by Matt Eberflus, reflecting his subdued approach.

The defense will require an additional edge rusher to support Montez Sweat, who struggled during the 2024 season after an injury interrupted his performance. The run defense also took a significant hit when Andrew Billings sustained a torn pectoral muscle. Backup Zacch Pickens failed to adequately fill the gap, and he may still be part of the team next season.

Here are some defensive players from the 2025 Senior Bowl who could assist the Bears in the upcoming NFL Draft.

**Defensive End – Mike Green, Marshall**

Mike Green had an outstanding Senior Bowl, standing out as a dominant edge rusher from Marshall. With 17 sacks, leading the nation, and a unanimous first-team All-American honor, he excelled in 1-on-1 matchups against larger offensive linemen. One of the highlights of the event was his overwhelming performance against Oregon’s left tackle, Josh Conerly.

Scouts have praised Green for his explosiveness, which allows him to attack while demonstrating excellent bend and agility to navigate around blockers and reach the backfield. He also uses his hands effectively to bypass protections and fend off blockers. Concerns about his size (6’3″, 251) linger, particularly regarding whether he can add weight without losing his effectiveness.

His Senior Bowl showing likely secured his first-round status, though it’s still uncertain if he should be a Top 10 pick. Allen tends to favor larger defensive ends, so it will be interesting to see if the Bears pass on Green because of his size or if Allen can find a way to leverage his skills despite being undersized.

**Defensive Tackle – Darius Alexander, Toledo**

Darius Alexander had an impressive Senior Bowl, following in the footsteps of his former Toledo teammate, Quinyon Mitchell, who became a first-round pick for the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Alexander, weighing 300 pounds with 34-inch arms, impressed scouts with his fluid body control and strong hands during 1-on-1 drills. A versatile player, Alexander can play both inside and outside, making him adaptable to various defensive schemes. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah compared him to Chiefs All-Pro DT Chris Jones in terms of body type.

As a sixth-year senior, Alexander is older than most prospects, which means he needs to contribute immediately rather than be a developmental project in his rookie season.

**Defensive End – Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M**

Shemar Stewart, a former 5-star recruit from Miami, entered Texas A&M in 2022. Standing at 6’5″ and weighing 280 pounds, Stewart is the type of edge rusher that Dennis Allen seeks. He boasts impressive speed off the edge and the power to overpower larger offensive linemen. He dominated drills and scrimmages during the Senior Bowl, although he sat out the actual game, confident in his current standing as a Top 20 pick. His draft stock could rise further if he performs well at the NFL Draft Combine.