Having made DeMarcus Walker one of their cap casualties, the Bears could stand to add in the edge rush department. When asked about the position at the Combine, general manager Ryan Poles left the door open to making moves on the veteran market as well as early in the draft. 
“There’s a strategy to that,” Poles said (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “I would probably argue and say if you get a good pass rusher [in March] and you draft a pass rusher, you can’t have enough good ones. You want to see how you could put the puzzle together where you can kind of fill all the needs perfectly. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.”
The Bears’ pass rush is of course centered on 2023 trade acquisition Montez Sweat, but finding an effective complement remains a key organizational priority. The Bears were linked to a late-offseason EDGE addition last offseason, and they ultimately worked out a trade with the Seahawks for Darrell Taylor in August to provide depth. Taylor (who posted three sacks in a part-time role) is a pending free agent, and his departure would create another vacancy for Poles to fill in the near future.
Chicago is among the league leaders in terms of projected 2025 cap space, and a higher-than-expected jump in the cap ceiling could allow for a lucrative addition. The Bears have Sweat on to a $24.5MM-per-year deal through 2027, and 2024 fifth-rounder Austin Booker is attached to his rookie contract for another three years. The latter logged a 27% snap share last year, and he could be in line for an increased workload moving forward.
Even if that is the case, though, one or more notable moves could be coming in the Bears’ case. Myles Garrett has made it clear he wants a trade from the Browns, although Cleveland has not shown a willingness to move him yet. Fellow veteran Harold Landry, meanwhile, has received permission to seek a trade from the Titans. The 2025 draft class is also seen as being deep along the defensive interior and on the edge, so Chicago could add as early as the 10th overall pick. The Bears have eight total selections, and even if an experienced pass rusher were to be added it would not come as a surprise if at least one of those were to be used at the position as well.
The Bears need to be looking at multiple O-Line additions. That task just became a bit more difficult with Smith being tagged by KC. I expect Atlanta Center Drew Dalman to sign an extension soon with the NFL cap increase. Good teams rarely let quality O-Lineman walk. Same can be said about D-Lineman. Poles will have work to do. It’s what you get where after 3 years as GM you build your roster from the outside-in.
I definitely agree with you that they are going to double dip in free agency and in the draft. I’d like to see 2 FA starters signed and draft 2 more.
More curious to see what the Bears do with some of their own guys. Not sure why Bates is still here when the Bears could re sign Jenkins and Pryor and be way better off. Can save 4 million on Bates and re sign Pryor and be better off. Jenkins can go back to RG where he was good and Pryor is a solid 4 position B/U. Depending on what Jenkins thinks he’s worth that is. He’s got to take a show me deal before any real money changes hands. I mean Trey Smith was a 6th round pick don’t forget. The later rounds are full of College OT’s that are too slow to be OT’s but would be just fine as G’s. The question is, What does Johnson want?
With the exception of Smith,who’s no longer available and Dalman who is likely to resign with Atlanta, there’s not much left in free agency when is comes to young,quality O-Linemen who are entering prime years. That’s a concern. Now, there’s some good D-Linemen available if the Bears choose to do so. Which they should. There’s some players, who if they remain available will help at least in theory.
I think it’s possible KC might do a tag and trade as opposed to just letting him go in FA. They have potentially a number of holes to fill and not nearly enough cap room.
Exactly. Especially a cold weather team with a GM that used to be an OL. You build inside out, not outside in. Drafting Odunze LY was celebrated, but in hindsight a wasted pick. Poles has failed building the lines. Their D secondary and LBs are good but are aging. Not many quality OL will hit the market and the ones that do will be expensive. Bears fans forget Ben Johnson won’t have the best OL in football like DET did.
The real question is can Poles identify quality IOLs because his track record is abysmal.
Ryan Poles is a pancake. All exciting at first and towards the end you’re fricken sick of him. Unless Chicago has a great season he is done and they will bring in an actual GM.
Then I think you’re going to be completely disappointed when Poles gets an extension that matches up with Johnson in the near future. The GM has to know what system the Coach is playing to draft the players that are needed for the system to work. That’s what happens when you have a clueless HC like Eberlose. He’s made his mistakes but none bigger than saddling Williams with Eberlose last year. That said he has no more excuses for missing other than unforeseen injuries.
Swiss cheese. The Bears roster due to Poles ignoring the trenches for years. Even with 70 million and extra 2nd round pick tough to get all 3 interior line positions and LT as they seem to be moving that way along with interior and outside rusher as mentioned above. Not to mention new RB and 3WR.
Johnson is going to have something to say about that.
I don’t have a problem with the Bears replacing Walker with another DE as long as the guy has more brains than this dude…link to youtube.com