The Bears’ depth along the edge (aside from Montez Sweat) is a question mark entering training camp. Plenty of time remains for a veteran addition to be made, but for the time being Chicago is not actively seeking one out. 
[RELATED: Sweat Would Not Have Debuted With Bears Before Signing Extension]
“We feel really comfortable with the guys that we have on our roster now,” general manager Ryan Poles said of the defensive end position during a Friday press conference (via The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain). “We will always have our eyes on the list of players we can potentially bring in.”
With $12.2MM in cap space, the Bears can certainly afford a modest investment along the edge, something which has been mentioned as a possibility during the offseason. Chicago added Yannick Ngakoue late in the summer last year, and he served as a starter when healthy. The journeyman sack artist logged a 72% defensive snap share before a broken ankle shut him down for the season.
Ngakoue has returned to full health since then, but he has yet to be linked to any suitors. Given that, along the the Bears’ lack of other moves at the position, a return to the Windy City could be in the cards. The 29-year-old inked a $10.5MM deal in 2023, but his injury and career-low four sacks last season will no doubt force him to take a less lucrative pact this year.
Aside from Sweat, the Bears’ veteran options at the defensive end spot include the likes of Jacob Martin, Khalid Kareem and Dominique Robinson. Chicago also selected Austin Booker in the fifth round of the draft, and he could fill a rotational role as a rookie. Training camp will no doubt be a key determinant in whether of not Poles decides that group is sufficient or an addition is required.
They might not be actively looking, but there are still some guys out there who would at least make sensible low cost additions to the rotation, whether it’s Ngakoue, Lawson, or Ogbah.
Connor Williams should be in play here. They have 12 million left and it’s worth the investment. Bates needs to be available later in the season to fill in for Davis or Jenkins. Williams shouldn’t cost much this year and wouldn’t need to play until he’s healed. Next year they can get rid of Davis and his 11 million and give it to Williams. The defense should be fine the way it is.
Williams could be a good signing, but I think Shelton is a perfectly fine center. Wise to have Bates at the ready as an understudy. But I do think edge opposite Sweat is still a glaring weakness for them, even if I like Booker’s potential.
Yep. Bears D played pretty well 2nd half of the season, even without Ngakoue. But they still could use another playmaker on the DL.
I’m good with whomever the Bears add as a DE as long as that guy is smarter than this….link to youtube.com
LMAO. Pulled Pork is smarter than that guy.
I remember that. Bum finally got a sack that year and then did that
So Caleb Williams tried a bunch of different ploys to circumvent the Tax system. So of course he passed all of those ideas on to Odunze which explains why he didn’t sign either because he was waiting to see if any of them actually worked. So that explains that.
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