Mikail Kamara Becomes First Edge Rusher To Visit Bears — And Why It’s Puzzling
It isn’t a secret that the Chicago Bears need to find more help at edge rusher. Montez Sweat and Austin Booker are the only two proven options on the roster. They need somebody to provide both competition and depth. That is why the team is expected to attack it early in the NFL draft next month. One would think they’d be more than eager to meet with all of the potential 1st round options who could be available at the 25th pick. Instead, the first name to emerge on their list of private visits is Mikail Kamara.
The 24-year-old defensive end concluded a six-year college career by helping Indiana to its first national championship in program history. While he only had two sacks this past season, he had 59 quarterback pressures as part of a dynamic defensive front that harassed opposing quarterbacks every week. Kamara had 10 sacks in 2024 and 7.5 in 2023. He’s proven he knows how to get into the backfield. There is just one problem.
He doesn’t fit the physical profile Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers.
Mikail Kamara has size concerns.
We know from Allen’s long track record that his defensive ends must usually meet certain thresholds. They must be at least 6’3″, 260 lbs, and have 33-inch arms. While Kamara is 265 lbs, he’s only 6’1″ and has arms estimated below 33 inches. That makes him an awkward fit for Allen’s defense. In his long career as a defensive coordinator and head coach, he has employed only one edge rusher under 6’2″: Elvis Dumervil (5’11”) in 2011. He was already an established All-Pro by that point, which is why Allen let it slide.
The selling point of Kamara comes from his ability to maximize what he has. His first step is explosive and he shows an outstanding motor to power through blocks. Thanks to his considerable experience, he has a deep toolbox of pass rush moves he uses to great effect. Perhaps most importantly, he is an above-average run defender, able to penetrate gaps and blow up plays. The problems are his lack of length and tightness in his lower half, which limit his ability to bend or drop into coverage.
The Bears’ interest in Kamara could mean two things.
First is the most straightforward. They feel he has enough tools in his bag to overlook the size issue. Guys with his power, motor, and first step tend to do pretty well at the NFL level. It doesn’t hurt that he can probably be acquired on day three of the draft, meaning it won’t cost more than a 4th round pick. Probably less. The other possibility is that the Bears see Mikail Kamara as a potential position-shifting option. They may wish to attempt moving him inside to defensive tackle. Allen doesn’t mind shorter players at that position. Sheldon Rankins was barely 6’1″.
It is hard to say whether this is feasible. Kamara would have to add at least 25 lbs to get into viable defensive tackle territory. The issue will be whether his frame can handle such significant weight gain without losing explosiveness. He has the power to hold up in that scenario, but the smarter decision might be to keep him at defensive end. Allen is a good coach. He should be able to make the most out of what Kamara does best. He’s a good football player.