This Pass Rusher is the PERFECT fit for the Bears!
The Chicago Bears have made quite a splash this offseason, scooping up an array of talent from both the free agency and the draft. Acquisitions like T.J Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, and Nate Davis in free agency, as well as Darnell Wright, Gervon Dexter, Zacch Pickens, Tyler Scott, and Roschon Johnson from the draft, suggest a promising boost to the squad. Given these additions, we can expect a markedly improved team for the 2023 season.
However, one area that stands out as a red flag is the edge rusher position. The Bears languished at the bottom of the league in sacks last year, with rookie safety Jaquon Brisker leading the team with a meager four sacks. This slump was all the more noticeable following a high-performing season in which Robert Quinn established the team's sack record with 18.5.
In response, the Bears have reinforced their line-up by signing DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green. Walker is fresh off a career-best season with the Titans, where he racked up 7.5 sacks. While this performance offers hope, the question remains whether he can replicate this success, given that this is his first year of such productivity.
Green, on the other hand, is expected to play a rotational role, contributing approximately four sacks per season. Beyond these additions, the Bears' pass-rushing unit appears largely unchanged, with Walker likely to start on one side and Trevis Gipson on the other. The general consensus anticipates that the Bears will struggle in the sack department once again unless they augment their ranks with more firepower.
Free Agent Spotlight: Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE
Yannick Ngakoue, currently the most enticing free agent up for grabs, could be the answer to the Bears' edge rusher woes. Aged 28, Ngakoue is at the prime of his career and could be a game-changer for the Bears. Since his third-round draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016, his output has been consistently impressive. Over his initial four seasons, he tallied 37.5 sacks.
Despite being traded thrice over the last three seasons, Ngakoue's productivity has not waned, never falling below eight sacks. His record over the last two seasons, split between the Raiders and the Colts, boasts a total of 19.5 sacks.
To secure Ngakoue's services, the Bears would likely need to invest between $10 and $15 million per season for what would probably be a two-year contract. His addition would bring much-needed dynamism to the team and could buy them time to scout and groom a top-tier edge rusher for the future.
| POLL | ||
29 MAI | 105 ANSWERS This Pass Rusher is the PERFECT fit for the Bears! Should the Bears sign Yannick Ngakoue? | ||
| Absolutely | 84 | 80 % |
| Not reallly | 21 | 20 % |
| List of polls | ||
