Why Bears Need to Prioritize Enhancing Their Edge Assistance
Bears defensive tackle Justin Jones was tasked with comparing the impending loss of Yannick Ngakoue due to his broken ankle, leaving primarily Montez Sweat's edge rush to challenge quarterbacks.
Jones noted, "He brings a different type of speed and agility to the game. Tez is the more powerful guy. He's still fast off the edge but really powerful. Yannick is the more speed and agile guy off the edge."
The Bears seemed to lack the speed and agility necessary to support Sweat, especially compared to Ngakoue.
Regarding upcoming free agent decisions in March, it appears straightforward not to re-sign Ngakoue. Despite his injury, his on-field production did not justify the hefty $10.5 million one-year deal the Bears invested in him.
Ngakoue's inadequacies were evident from the start; his strength lay in pass rushing rather than stopping the run, a crucial aspect in Coach Matt Eberflus' defensive scheme.
The Bears' pass rush suffered significantly with Ngakoue's lackluster performance before his injury in Week 13, recording the lowest stats of his career in various categories.
Given Ngakoue's underwhelming performance and pending free agency, the Bears are expected to explore alternatives in both free agency and the draft for edge rush assistance.
Backup edge rusher Rasheem Green, also a free agent, contributed modestly, but the Bears have yet to see significant production from Dominique Robinson, their 2022 fifth-round pick.
Despite initially relying on interior pressure, the Bears realized the necessity of bolstering their edge rush and hurriedly signed Ngakoue during training camp. However, this panic buy failed to yield desired results.
Subsequently, the Bears made a trade to acquire Sweat to address their pass rush needs.
Looking ahead, the Bears may target various free agent edge rushers to complement Sweat, potentially including Josh Allen, Brian Burns, Danielle Hunter, Bryce Huff, Carl Lawson, Chase Young, Jonathan Greenard, Za'Darius Smith, Jadeveon Clowney, and Denico Autry.
Expect Bears' GM Ryan Poles and Coach Eberflus to prioritize acquiring an edge rush complement for Sweat in the offseason, possibly through free agency or the draft.
As for the Bears' impending free agents, it's projected that Yannick Ngakoue will depart, while Rasheem Green's future with the team remains uncertain.
| POLL | ||
9 FEVRIER | 37 ANSWERS Why Bears Need to Prioritize Enhancing Their Edge Assistance Should the Beras sign a big-time free agent at EDGE? | ||
| yes | 24 | 64.9 % |
| No | 13 | 35.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
