The top edge rusher still on the market has found a home. Yannick Ngakoue has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Bears, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
Schefter adds that the contract includes $10MM guaranteed, with a maximum value of $10.5MM. Ngakoue made out very well for himself financially considering how tepid his market appeared to be for much of the offseason. It does not come as a surprise, however, that he will head to the Windy City in 2023.
The Bears – a team which recorded a league-worst 22 sacks last season – were named as a team to watch in June. A report from that time indicated Ngakoue was seeking between $8MM and $10MM on his next contract, a figure which outpaces what Leonard Floyd and Frank Clark were able to secure (in terms of base compensation) from the Bills and Broncos, respectively. Bears GM Ryan Poles has been rather public about his ongoing desire to land an upgrade on the edge, and this move has allowed that to come to fruition.
Ngakoue, 28, had originally stated his desire to sign a multi-year deal with a contending team. Securing a long-term commitment from any team has proven elusive to date in his career, though. The former second-rounder has played for five teams in his seven years in the NFL, remaining productive at every stop. Ngakoue has recorded at least eight sacks every year, but his struggles against the run have limited his overall effectiveness and thus his ability to find a stable home.
The Maryland alum changed his stance last month, indicating he did not see the chances of his next team to compete for a Super Bowl as a make-or-break factor in his decision-making process. After a 3-14 season last year, the Bears certainly qualify as a team which is not expected to be among the heavyweights in the NFC. Despite head coach Matt Eberflus having a background with the Colts, where Ngakoue played last season, the pair have never worked together.
The Bears entered Thursday with the most cap space in the league, holding over $28MM in available funds. A sizeable investment in Ngakoue will eat considerably into that total, but if he can remain consistent as a pass-rushing presence, he will prove to be an effective addition as Chicago looks to take a needed step forward on defense.
Yes!!! Finally!
For real
Good signing.. But poles’s stubborn blind spot is O-line depth. Not even a week into camp and 2 starters are already missing time and the backups are a joke.
Better late than never…
Better never than on time
that’s a joke
Wow, he did pretty well for himself considering how late he signed.
Definitely a giant win for Ngakoue, got to skip most of the off-season workouts, gets paid at the top end of what he was seeking, found a place where he’s going to get all the opportunities he needs to try and earn a multi-year contract next season, and Chicago looks like their defensive line already has a few guys that are well equipped to stop the run, so Ngakoue should just be able to primarily pin his ears back, do what he does best, and go after the oppos8ng team’s QB.
Now, with Ngakoue, Gipson, Walker, Billings, Jones, Green, and then with their new interior guys Z.Pickens and G.Dexter the Bears D-Line could actually surprise some people. They have enough bodies to stay fresh, and they have enough depth, so they won’t have to suffer from much drop off, if any, whenever they rotate in their backups. Quality depth along a DL goes a LOONG WAY in the NFL.
I’ll happily take a group of 6-7 very solid guys, over a group that might have some star power but lacks depth, any and everyday!!
Excellent pickup for the Bears, I was hoping the 49ers would add Ngakoue into their EDGE mix, but there’s no way they were going to pay 10mil for someone that would primarily be a backup situational player.
Not unhappy but not thrilled. Guess we’ll see when they start playing games. I hope it works out it certainly fills a need and could lean towards a future deal. Makes next years draft possibilities all the more promising If he works out.
Nice addition for that Bears defense
Area of need + cap space on a one year prove it deal while rebuilding? Perfect!
If he stinks, he’s out, if he plays well, maybe get a pick at the deadline if Bears aren’t competing for the playoffs (don’t think they will be close this year)
Is this a sign that the other top remaining free agents like Cook and Elliott will be the next dominoes to fall?
More so for the FA DL. Cook is just trying to squeeze the biggest contract out of NE, NYJ, or MIA
How many teams is he gonna play for? Geez.