Yannick Ngakoue‘s debut Bears campaign came to an abrupt end due to a broken ankle. He remains unsigned following the draft, but a return to health could lead to an uptick in interest. 
Ngakoue operated as a full-time starter in 2023 upon signing a one-year Bears pact. He racked up four sacks as a member of Chicago’s underwhelming edge contingent before needing to undergo season-ending surgery. The journeyman thus posted less than eight sacks for the first time in his career, but a video he posted this week demonstrates his ankle has healed. It will be interesting to see if his market picks up as a result.
Chicago added Montez Sweat at the trade deadline, and that move was followed up by a four-year, $98MM extension. The Bears still have room to improve along the edge, though, and The Athletic’s Adam Jahns writes it “wouldn’t be surprising” if Ngakoue was brought back on a low-cost agreement (subscription required). The 29-year-old signed a one-year, $10.5MM deal last offseason, but his injury will hinder his market value this time around.
Ngakoue has bounced around the NFL over his eight-year career, spending time with the Jaguars, Vikings, Ravens, Raiders, Colts and Bears. Chicago has one major edge commitment on the books in the form of Sweat (who posted a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2023, including six with the Bears), but a veteran addition could see notable playing time this season. Ngakoue is best suited as a complementary option specializing on third downs, a role he could fulfill on a new Bears agreement.
Chicago’s only draft addition along the edge was fifth-rounder Austin Booker. The Kansas product saw little playing time in his first two college seasons, but his lone campaign with the Jayhawks upon transferring produced eight sacks. Booker could operate in a rotational capacity as a rookie, but first-team reps should not be expected right away. As things stand, veteran DeMarcus Walker is in line to start opposite Sweat. Walker (who is on the books for two more years at cap hits of $8.67MM and $5.92MM) posted 3.5 sacks last season, leaving plenty of room for improvement in that department moving forward.
The Bears have nearly $23MM in cap space, so they are better positioned than most teams to make a notable post-draft free agent addition. Ngakoue has not been linked to any potential suitors so far, but it will be worth watching to see if the Bears pursue a reunion.
I’d rather not.
Need to wait until cuts happen in August to sign somebody.
Gotta bring him back for cheap to rotate with Demarcus on pass rush downs, makes perfect sense, he can’t be your edge #1 but as a guy with Sweat it would be better than praying Booker is ready, and Dominique Robinson should be cut he’s so ineffective
The guy is toast. He was a blue spot on a blue wall for them last year and horrible against the run. There are other options.
Everybody is talking about signing another Edge but nobody talks about Demarcus Walker. The guy is not exactly a slug and on 3rd down he slides in at DT and gets a good push from there. Hey next year with a 1st and 2 2nds Poles can draft Walker and Davis’ replacements and save 20 million in the process no problem. Since Davis costs 11 million whether he’s here or not we have to hope he doesn’t have any more sick family members and he actually plays and plays well at least for THIS year. Next year we can dump him for 2 million.
Rather sign Ogbah.
It’s more like 12-13 million in cap space. “23MM” does not account for signing the draft class.
Yeah but there’s more dead weight that can go Rondon. Borom-3.5 million, Blasingame 1.5 million, Homer 2 million( They signed other FA Special Teamer’s and he’s a horrible RB) Just off the top of my head. I personally think Borom might be a decent G, But he’s a bad OT and they signed other options. Renegotiate Allen and bring his cap down by extending him and giving him more guaranteed money. There’s more cap to be found but I wouldn’t use it on this guy.
Yep, I think Borom’s gone. I’m not familiar with Waldron or what he’ll lean in on with the Bears so I don’t know who else will be out, but I’m sure there’ll be more. I just don’t think it’ll amount to more than a few million?
After they sign the draft picks they’ll have about 12 million left give or take. Get rid of the guys I mentioned and now it’s 20. Renegotiate Allen and maybe get a few more. I’d much rather spend that on the C from Miami, Even though I know he’s probably not going to start the season while he rehabs. I’d rather have an All Pro C later in the season than a washed up DE who I already saw stink last year. There are better ways to spend that money I think.
If Ngakouye is only like $3-5 million coming off the injury, why not do both?
I could see the Bears “save” at EDGE by passing on Ngakoue, instead resigning Green for around $3M. Green was a better run defender and perhaps their best special teams Big. Perhaps they can afford both if Ngakoue takes half ($5.25M).
Nate Davis could potentially be dealt during the season, as unlikely as that may seem right now. With the Guard market exploding in cost, Bears could find a buyer should injuries hit other teams. It could save as much as $9.35M by trading before week 1, or less if they pay some salary to improve the compensation.
Such a scenario would require Bates or Amegadje to win LG, Jenkins to remain healthy at RG, and Matt Pryor to handle swing tackle. Poles doesn’t play around, willing to cut bait on mistakes. So, I expect Davis to be traded to rid them of the future liability of that contract.
IMO, Bears will save $10-15M Cap space for an October trade using a 2025 2nd or 3rd for an expensive players on an expiring deal sometime in October…DE, DT, or maybe even TE.