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The Bears added some depth along their defensive line by selecting BYU’s Khyiris Tonga with the No. 250 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Tonga was a productive defensive lineman for the Cougars, tallying 130 tackles and 16 tackles for a loss in his four seasons. He’s a stout defender at 6-foot-2 and 325 pounds with a thick frame and plenty of raw power at the point of attack.
An intelligent interior defender who does a great job of freeing his hands up in run support to make plays, Tonga’s hand usage and raw power at the point of attack makes him a force to be reckoned with at the nose tackle position. He is able to convert speed to power and penetrate the backfield and has solid first-step quickness.
I took to the tape to describe what Tonga brings to the Bears and what to expect from him.
THREAD: If you like powerful, run-stuffing defensive linemen, you’ll love new #Bears DL Khyiris Tonga.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) May 1, 2021
Tonga — whose first name is pronounced Ky-riss — played significant snaps at nose tackle for BYU.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) May 1, 2021
He’s a 6-foot-2, 325-pound space eater whose upper-body strength and powerful anchor makes him a menace against the run. #Bears pic.twitter.com/1c7h0k5yTE
Tonga converts speed to power well and has good first-step quickness for someone his size.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) May 1, 2021
He doesn’t have elite sack production, but he’s a pocket pusher who shouldn’t be left one-on-one with most centers. #Bears pic.twitter.com/2k993L2Xt4
Tonga does a good job of churning his legs at the point of attack, and he fights hard with his hands to disengage upon contact.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) May 1, 2021
His sheer mass and overall quickness in a vacuum makes him a presence on a pretty regular basis. #Bears pic.twitter.com/f4eqWOgqTb
Tonga complements his size and strength with good awareness as a gap eater.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) May 1, 2021
He does a great job of freeing up his hands and reading the running back’s movements to determine when and how to strike in the backfield. #Bears pic.twitter.com/bbbTx1VN3o
He’s a bit stout and doesn’t have elite pass-rushing upside, but Khyiris Tonga is a thickly-built nose tackle who dominates against the run.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) May 1, 2021
He’s a quality depth addition to the #Bears’ defensive line this late.
Give Robert Schmitz’s Bear With me Podcast a listen as he and Jacob Infante breaks down the play of Khyiris Tonga and how he’ll fit in with the Bears.