The Bears are set to make a veteran addition along the edge via trade. Darrell Taylor is on his way from Seattle to Chicago, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The Seahawks will receive a 2025 sixth-round pick in return per the terms of the trade, which is now official. 
On Thursday, Seattle moved on from one veteran defender by dealing cornerback Michael Jackson to the Panthers. That trade netted seventh-round rookie linebacker Michael Barrett, and today’s move has likewise seen an experienced contributor sent elsewhere in the NFC with the future in mind. Taylor has one year remaining on his contract. This deal will see the Bears take on his $3.12MM base salary after the Seahawks already paid out a $20K signing bonus.
The 27-year-old missed his entire rookie campaign but has been a rotational presence off the edge for each of the past three years. Taylor has started 11 games since 2021, logging snap shares between 44% and 46% during that span. His best season came in 2022, when he totaled 9.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. His production took a step back last year (5.5 sacks), but Taylor still found himself in Seattle’s plans via the one-year agreement which took the place of an RFA tender.
With that said, the Seahawks were open to trading the former second-rounder in advance of the 2023 deadline. The season-ending injury suffered by Uchenna Nwosu changed that stance and led to Taylor remaining in place to close out the campaign. Moving forward, Nwosu, along with recent second-round selections Boye Mafe and Derick Hall will be leaned on heavily along the edge by Seattle.
From the Bears’ perspective, this move comes as little surprise. Montez Sweat is in place as the anchor of the team’s edge rush, but adding a proven complementary option has long been mentioned as an offseason priority. Talks with Yannick Ngakoue – who played on a one-year Bears pact in 2023 – have taken place. Chicago was also a finalist in the Matt Judon trade, offering a third-round pick for the four-time Pro Bowler. That matched the value of the Falcons’ offer, and Judon was reportedly given the choice between Atlanta and Chicago. After coming up short on those fronts, Taylor will head to the Windy City set up for at least a part-time role.
Chicago also has the likes of DeMarcus Walker, Dominique Robinson, Khalid Kareem and fifth-round rookie Austin Booker in place behind Sweat on the depth chart. Taylor – who has 50 combined regular and postseason games and 21.5 sacks to his name – represents an intriguing addition to that group. Questions may remain about the long-term future of the Bears’ non-Sweat edge rushers, but for 2024 Taylor will be a contributor to their front seven. Seattle entered Friday with less than $9MM in cap space, but today’s move will increase that total by more than $3MM. Chicago’s available space will take a hit, though the team will still have over $18MM in available funds with Taylor in the fold.
Back with waldron. Niiiceee
Not sure how he fits in Waldron’s offense. But I’m all ears.
Psych! LOL
What’s Waldron got to do with it?
Waldron’s obviously the OC, but they were in the same locker room. Waldron can at least vouch the type of attitude/personality they are adding to the mix. In addition, Waldron would have an idea of how disruptive he is as a pash rusher from practices, etc…
I should probably wait for the “more to come”, but on the surface, this looks like a solid move. They are thin in the DL rotation and this guy has a solid history of pressuring QBs. And he’s young and athletic. A Poles kinda player.
I’d rather play Booker and Hardy. But then again they didn’t give up anything either. I would expect that some of the Bears potential Cuts will be able to get more picks back than they send out. Tuesday is going to be a tough day for Poles and Cunningham.
Always need depth for DL, Booker and Hardy should get plenty of run
I wouldn’t be horribly surprised to see the Bears try to move Demarcus Walker and his salary. They can’t just cut him because it would cost more to do that than trade him. Probably won’t be able to pull that off but who knows? Anyway It’s been fun Dominique Robinson. Have a nice trip….wherever.
This move allows them to move Walker inside more where he has been a better pass rusher. And hopefully this puts an end to the Yannick noise.
It’s odd to say that the Bears will have a tough time making cuts (since we’ve sucked). A lot of players have played well. I agree Hardy should make it. This move might get him on the PS. I think their toughest decisions will be the WR, RB, and CB spots.
I don’t know about you but I think Reddy Steward and Velus Jones as a RB make the team. Which makes Homer gone and one of Johnson/Herbert trade bait. Depending on Wheeler’s injury they can put him on IR all year and red shirt so to speak. It might come down to which one of Jones,Herbert and Johnson is more durable. Colin Johnson is Practice squad and One of Sweeney or Bates also as they are about equal. Lot of tough decisions. I’m for keeping Herbert, But he might fetch the best draft pick return.
I like the move only IF they keep Daniel Hardy on the 53, but this may be insurance for the risk of waiving Hardy to get him on the PS.
I really think their top team need is DT, but perhaps they see Taylor as enough of an Edge to move Walker to DT. Walker performed much better after the Sweat acquisition, so cutting or trading him now seems very unlikely. But they are definitely missing Justin Jones.
Which DB gets traded? Reddy will likely be claimed, so I think Pokes will protect him on the 53. Jaylon Jones and Blackwell are their two best ST players, wonder if that makes Terrell Smith available in trade?
Maybe it’s just me but I’m not trading Terrell Smith for anything. He’s only in the 2nd year of his rookie deal and he’s a starting CB. Just not here right now. And Steward isn’t that big. He might not hold up for a whole season. He’s be a great 5th CB. Not a 3rd CB.
I was just speculating on which DB could bring back a decent pick, but trades aren’t likely unless a team is desperate due to injuries. Agreed that Smith is a terrific #3, could start on many teams.
I guess Taylor replaces Kareem, giving them four lighter, quick Edges with Booker, Hardy & DomRob. With the blitz ability of their LBs and DBs, the Bears D is going to be seriously fast and dangerous, even if they lose a few on cut down day.
I’m a rival fan and I think this is a much better move than bringing Yannick back. Solid roleplayer who when given opportunities can get to the QB.
My mother is 86 and would be a better move than bringing back Yannick.
UDFA?
What’s her contract demands?
Haha! She’d probably insist Mike be installed as the team mascot.
All I can tell you is the woman has a mean head slap. Kept me in line. Keep feeding her Wendy’s Frosty’s and she’s good.
That is silly we all know a good diet of Frostys is essential for good health.
Solid depth addition
Good riddance. Taylor was one of many bad draft picks made by Pete Carroll and GM Schnieder.
He missed 1 game in his career and had 21.5 sacks over 3 seasons in 13 starts..I’m assuming youve watched more Seahawks games then I have, what was it that you didn’t like about him. I may be wrong about games missed, did he miss his entire rookie season?
Not being sarcastic, genuinely curious to get a home fans perspective.
He missed his entire rookie season in 2020. Most of those sacks 9.5 came in on year. With new coach he doesn’t fit plans. Bears might get more out of him
Less than 15% of 6th round picks make the NFL 53 man roster. This is a no brainer and if he gels with the team and produces they can extend him if the want.
Booker is a beast. Dude seems to have a high football IQ maintaining containment despite utilizing pass rush moves a vet would be doing. Not a 5th round rookie
While Booker seems to have some great upside, he’s just 21. Right now he’s a pass rusher because against 1st OT they will run right at him.
Agreed. Both Booker & Hardy looked great in exhibition games against 2nd & 3rd string linemen running vanilla plays… I am optimistically hoping for the best; but they could look very average against ones when the games count.