Newly inducted HOFer shares his thoughts on Matt Eberflus calling plays, Bears' 2024 NFL Draft plans

Those were kind words to receive from the newest member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who had a legendary career of his own during his time in the NFL. The same sentiment has been shared from many members of the Bears' defense including their newest star who helped turn the unit around in 2024.

"[Eberflus is] smart, he's innovative, he listens to us players," Sweat said back in January. "He trusts his gut, and he trusts his players. There's definitely a foundation here that we're building upon."

With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a month away, the Bears' head coach is hoping to add the last missing piece to his defense, which is another pass rusher to complement his newest star pass rusher in order to round out the team's defensive line and get after the quarterback next season.

"It's important that we get that piece because you have to have the 1-2 punch," Eberflus said via the team's official website. "I would also argue that the inside piece is also something that we should be looking at, and it's important that we do that. Direct line to the quarterback. When they max protect, it's a soft spot in the protection. We're looking at all pass rushers. It can be inside, outside, all along the line. We're having an open mind in that regard."

Freeney knows a thing or two about playing alongside a top prospect on the defensive line that was brought in to boost the defense during his time with the Indianapolis Colts. Following his first season with the Colts, the front office added Robert Mathis to the defensive line in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. From 2003-2012, the two combined for 186.0 sacks and became one of the top dominant pass rushing duos.

That's exactly what the Bears and Eberflus are hoping to lay the foundation for with Sweat and a top prospect selected at some point in the upcoming draft, a decision Freeney is all in favor of the Bears making later this month.

"There's nothing better when you're out there with your teammate, and he's struggling, the same struggle that you are, and you can just look across and he's shaking his head and you're shaking your head. It's just one of those things where if you have somebody who's a dog across from, you just know one of you two are going to get there." Freeney said. "Whoever [the Bears draft], they have to see eye to eye with what's going on scheme wise and play off each other."

The Bears have been doing their due diligence on many of the top pass rushing prospects in this year's draft in the first round and later rounds. Armed with four picks in the draft, adding an edge rusher seems like a top priority in order for Eberflus' unit to continue operating at a high level.