Bears Urged to Bolster Pass Rush with $65 Million Pro Bowl DE
Bears Urged to Double Down on Pass Rush with Emmanuel Ogbah and Yannick Ngakoue
The Chicago Bears made a decisive move by acquiring Montez Sweat, and a similar strategy might be beneficial in securing complementary pass rushers.
The Bears showed their interest in bolstering their defense by trading a future fourth-round pick to draft Kansas defensive end Austin Booker in the fifth round. However, expecting Booker to become a starter soon is optimistic. ESPN's Courtney Cronin suggested on May 22 that a one-year deal with Yannick Ngakoue could serve as a temporary solution while Booker develops.
Ngakoue, familiar with head coach Matt Eberflus from their time with the Indianapolis Colts, would be an affordable and logical short-term addition. Despite a disappointing season last year due to an ankle injury, Ngakoue's familiarity with the team makes him a viable option.
Currently, the free agent market doesn't offer a single player who can fill the edge rusher role long-term. However, by signing both Ngakoue and Emmanuel Ogbah, the Bears can create a more robust defensive front. Ogbah, who has spent the last four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, recorded 24.5 sacks over 57 games.
ESPN's Matt Bowen recently suggested that the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns could benefit from Ogbah and Ngakoue, respectively. His rationale can also apply to the Bears, who need to bolster their pass rush significantly.
Both the Raiders and Browns were more successful in pressuring quarterbacks last season, with 46 and 49 sacks, respectively, compared to the Bears' 30. Adding Ngakoue and Ogbah could help improve Chicago's pass rush depth and performance.
Even if Ogbah and Ngakoue only combine for 10 sacks, they would provide critical support to Sweat, who had a standout Pro Bowl season with 12.5 sacks. This combination could elevate the Bears from their near-bottom ranking in sacks, a crucial metric for defensive success.
Financially, the Bears are in a position to pursue this strategy, with $22.7 million in salary cap space available as of Wednesday. Signing both players is a feasible investment to enhance their defensive line and overall team performance.
As seen -
| POLL | ||
23 MAI | 30 ANSWERS Bears Urged to Bolster Pass Rush with $65 Million Pro Bowl DE Should the Bears sign both Ngakoue and Ogbah to improve their defense? | ||
| Yes | 22 | 73.3 % |
| No | 8 | 26.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
