As the draft gets closer, the Chicago Bears have been connected to plenty of names over the past month. Most discussions center around a small group of notable prospects: Ashton Jeanty, Will Campbell, Tyler Warren, and Kelvin Banks. Then you have some lesser names, like Mason Graham or Shemar Stewart, who could be in play. All make some degree of sense for one reason or another. What nobody knows is how GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson stack the board.
However, if we’ve learned anything about this team, it is always to expect a curveball. Few saw Darnell Wright coming in 2023. There is a chance the Bears could do it again this year, and they’re in the exact same spot. Longtime insider Adam Caplan revealed on his podcast that one name is floating out there who hasn’t been mentioned enough. That is Mike Green. He believes if the background checks on the Marshall pass rusher went well, there is a strong possibility Chicago considers him at #10.
Green would be a dangerous but calculated gamble by the Chicago Bears.
In normal circumstances, there is a chance Green would be a top-10 lock, maybe even top five. He was dominant with 17 sacks and 23 tackles for a loss in 2024. He followed that up with an overwhelming performance at the Senior Bowl. He’s a great athlete, fast off the snap, and deceptively powerful. The only drawbacks are his average size and length. Then again, he has the same dimensions as Khalil Mack, whom Dennis Allen coached in Las Vegas.
The primary issue with Green isn’t talent. It is character. There are two rumored incidents in both high school and college involving domestic violence that have many nervous about his dependability in the NFL. Poles has avoided players with character red flags during his tenure with the Chicago Bears. However, head coach Ben Johnson showed in Detroit that he’s willing to take such gambles. Jameson Williams has similar concerns about him coming out of Alabama. Maybe this coaching staff feels Green is worth the risk. He certainly brings the one defensive line element they’re missing.