Andrew Billings Keeps Improving As Anchor To Bears’ Defense

Some of the best deals are the little ones that age well. That’s the case with the Bears’ under-the-radar signing of massive defensive tackle Andrew Billings.

While the headline-grabbing trade for Montez Sweat was the tipping point for Ryan Poles’ defense, the addition of Billings helped get the ball rolling for a team that had held opponents to an average of 16.3 points over its last 10 games.

Billings, 29, has been a foot soldier throughout his seven-season career that began when Cincinnati selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. He’s started 70 games but this is probably the first time he’s merited a spot on a Pro Bowl watch list.

At 6-1, 311 pounds, Billings’ reputation is for being a run stuffer. But in the Bears’ first two games this season — a chaotic win over Tennessee and a loss in which they hung in until the last series in Houston — he has played a role in helping harass quarterbacks Will Levis and C.J. Stroud.

Pro Football Focus gives him a pass-rushing grade of 85.7, which is eighth in the league and third among the 99 interior defenders ranked. He currently is listed ahead of brand names like Vita Tea, Trey Hendrickson and Nick Bosa.Teammate DeMarcus Walker is 31st on that list.

While fellow linemen Darrell Taylor and Gervon Dexter have two sacks apiece, Billings quietly leads the Bears with a 15.6 pressure percentage, according to Pro Football Focus.

The defense is playing well across the board. It ranks sixth in scoring (18.0), eighth in total yards (277) and 10th in sacks (six). This is a marked difference from its play in 2022, the first transition year after Poles replaced Ryan Pace as general manager. The Bears were 29th in yards allowed and 32nd in both scoring (25.7 points per game) and sacks (20).

MORE FOR YOU
Apple’s Update Decision—Bad News Confirmed For Millions Of iPhone Users
BlackRock Reveals It’s Quietly Preparing For A $35 Trillion Federal Reserve Dollar Crisis With Bitcoin—Predicted To Spark A Sudden Price Boom
Harris Gets Big Bump Over Trump In Election Betting Markets—One Week After First Presidential Debate

Poles was focused on filling the void left after having Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman in the middle of the defensive line for six seasons. He wasn’t looking to expend major capital, however, as the Bears were coming off a 3-14 season with no expectation to contend in 2023.

Billings was looking for a mid-career opportunity after signing one-year deals with Cleveland and Las Vegas the previous two seasons. He had been a regular for the Bengals but didn’t play in 2020. He missed the first three games with a fibula injury and opted to sit out the rest of the season in deference to Covid concerns.

Poles invested only $2.75 million to add him for ’23 but then rewarded him with a two-year, $8 million extension in November.

"We're extremely excited to be able to keep Andrew in Chicago," Poles said. "The professionalism, dependability and toughness he brings exhibit the type of player we want in our organization.”

Billings had been projected as a possible first-round pick in the draft after playing for Baylor but inexplicably slipped to the fourth round, perhaps because of concern about his health. He was competing for the starting nose tackle job in his first pro camp before he suffered a knee injury in training camp, which caused him to spend his rookie season on the Injured Reserve List.

Billings is playing under a multi-year contract for the first time since his rookie deal expired after the 2019 season. He said he was excited about the extension “one, because they appreciate me and two, because I see a future here - not only for myself but also for the team.”

PFF currently ranks Billings seventh among 115 interior defenders. This is in a small sample size but isn’t an outlier as PFF has ranked him in the top half at the position throughout his career. Even better, his ranking has steadily improved from 16th in 2022 and 12th in ’23. His emergence is not a fluke.

Ditto the promising start by the Bears’ defense. PFF gives good grades to 11 of the 12 Chicago defenders who have played enough snaps to qualify, with second-year cornerback Tyrique Stevenson the exception. He made the biggest play of the year, returning a Levis interception for a touchdown, but has been a liability in run defense.

That’s a minor issue for a defense that has a lot to feel good about. The confidence starts up front, with a line that’s anchored by Billings. His value seems to grow every time he’s on the field.