The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, closing the book on the busiest portion of the league’s offseason. And while the Chicago Bears have had a strong offseason thus far, filling holes all across the roster, they have yet to fully address one of the team’s most glaring needs: getting after the quarterback.
Last season, the Bears racked up 20 sacks, and while that’s an impressive total for an individual player, it’s absolutely abysmal for an entire defense. For a team completely devoid of talent on the defensive line, this may have been expected, but changes clearly needed to be made. The team addressed its need at defensive tackle by signing veteran run stuffer Andrew Billings and selecting both Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens on the second day of the draft. It’s not exactly the 49ers or Eagles’ superstar lineups on the line, but it’s a significant upgrade from this time last year.
But as for edge rushers? Chicago brought in DeMarcus Walker, who racked up seven sacks for the Titans as a rotational player last season, and… that’s it. No other signings, not a single player taken in the draft. That being said, there are plenty of solid free agents left at the position, and with over $30 million left in cap space, the Bears could certainly add a veteran or two. Let’s dive into some veteran options for a team that just needs to bring in someone.
Leonard Floyd
Starting things off with a familiar face, Floyd spent the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams after starting his career in Chicago. The Bears drafted Floyd with the ninth pick in 2016, but he quickly became a disappointment, accumulating a meager 18.5 sacks during his four seasons in the Windy City. However, he enjoyed a slight career renaissance once he joined the Rams, racking up 29.5 sacks over the past three years while also winning a Super Bowl ring.
Floyd will turn 30 at the start of the season, and it’s unlikely he ever lives up to his draft pedigree. However, he has been a consistent player since heading to the City of Angels, and the Bears could use some consistency at the position. Bringing in a veteran player with playoff experience could pay dividends for a Bears team that not only lacks talent off the edge but also has a need for more veteran leadership.
Jadeveon Clowney
Speaking of players who never lived up to their draft pedigree, Clowney was once considered a generational edge rushing prospect out of the University of South Carolina thanks to his tantalizing physical traits. He was selected with the first pick of the 2014 draft but failed to live up to the hype, failing to have even one double-digit sack season.
However, there’s a reason Clowney keeps finding his way onto rosters: his freakish athleticism makes him a formidable foe for offensive linemen, and he’s made a name for himself as a strong run stopper (yet another area of defense the Bears struggled at last season). Clowney has a lot to offer the Bears, and he shouldn’t come at too high of a price, especially at this stage of the offseason. Yet one area of concern is his attitude: he’s had the “bad work ethic” tag placed on him since his college days, and he had a bit of a falling out with the Cleveland Browns this past season before being released. Bears general manager Ryan Poles has shown through his offseason moves that he prioritizes high-character, hard-working players, and Clowney may not fit in that vision.
Yannick Ngakoue
As a player, Ngakoue may be the complete opposite of Clowney: he surpassed expectations as a third-round pick, and while he’s put up multiple double-digit sack seasons, he has struggled against the run. Yet the two players have had similar career paths: both were traded by their original teams heading into their fifth seasons, and both have bounced around the league since.
Ngakoue, 28, is a productive player, even if he never lived up to the hype he generated following a breakout 12-sack sophomore campaign in 2017. His weakness against the run may scare off suitors, including the Bears, but if used primarily as a passing-down rotational piece, he can still be a productive player. Ngakoue is certainly an option the Bears should explore.
Frank Clark
Clark is arguably the biggest name left on the market, as he’s been a key component of a Kansas City Chiefs team that’s made three Super Bowls and won two in the past four years. Despite this, he has not been an incredibly productive player for the Chiefs, averaging just under six sacks per season since coming to Kansas City. He’s performed better in the playoffs, but the Bears aren’t exactly playoff favorites at the moment.
Overall, Clark is a big name, but at 30 years old, he’s probably best placed in the rotation piece conversation. His name value and playoff pedigree may drive up his price, which should immediately back the Bears out of his market. But if Clark’s price tag more accurately reflects his recent production (or lack thereof), adding an experienced veteran to Chicago’s rotation wouldn’t be the worst move.
Justin Houston
Moving from one former Chief to another, Justin Houston is by far the most established member of this group. In a near-Hall of Fame-level career, he has racked up over 100 sacks and been named to four Pro Bowls. Though he’s 34 years old, he continues to show that he has something left in the tank. This past season, he put up 9.5 sacks despite only starting one game for the Baltimore Ravens.
Houston has plenty of connections to the Bears: his Chiefs career coincided with Ryan Poles’ time in Kansas City. Furthermore, he spent two seasons with the Colts, during which now-Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was the team’s defensive coordinator. He’s obviously a defensive scheme fit, and he has plenty of ties to the Bears’ roster-building braintrust. His combination of experience and talent make him a natural fit in Chicago. The only caveat to this seemingly obvious fit is Houston’s age: at 34, he may seek to join a contender in pursuit of a Super Bowl championship. But if those options fall through, don’t be surprised if Houston winds up wearing orange and navy next fall.
