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Bears’ DE needs not critical

This draft class is loaded with defensive ends, one of the less critical needs for the Bears.

Julius Peppers was a huge difference maker in his first season after the Bears created the biggest splash in free agency last year by snapping him up just hours after the free-agency period began. Even though his sack total of 8 wasn’t spectacular At least for him), Peppers helped make everyone on the defense better, and he had a whopping 23 quarterback pressures, 5 more than the next two teammates combined. He also was outstanding against the run, an aspect of his game that had been overlooked, and he was voted to his sixth Pro Bowl.

Israel Idonije may have benefited from Peppers’ presence as much as anyone. He had a breakout season in his first year as a full-time starter and matched Peppers’ sack total, which was more than double his previous best. Peppers and Idonije finished 1-2 in tackles among Bears defensive linemen.

Idonije did not even start the season opener. He played behind Mark Anderson, but then started the following week and every week after that, rendering Anderson obsolete and dispensable. Idonije had always been a solid run defender, even as he was yo-yoed back and forth for years between tackle and end, performing yeoman work as a backup at both spots.

The Peppers-Idonije combination provides the Bears with an excellent pair of starters. And, while Idonije is 30 and Peppers 31, neither one appears to be slowing down. While Peppers played at the same elite level he’s demonstrated for his first eight years in the league, Idonije might be getting better.

Rookie Corey Wooton, a fourth-round pick from Northwestern, showed flashes of being an effective pass rusher, and he has enough size (6-6, 270) to hold the point of attack vs. the run.

The Bears list undersized Henry Melton (6-3, 260) as a defensive end, but he also played inside at tackle in passing situations. In limited snaps, he tied for second on the team with 9 QB pressures and had 2 1/2 sacks.

Need: 3 (On a scale with 10 representing a dire need and 1 representing no need at all.)

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