Tag: Bears edge rusher

Bears fans celebrate the signing of DE Yannick Ngakoue

Yannick Ngakoue is a Chicago Bear and fans are thrilled with the move.

At long last, the Chicago Bears found their prized pass rusher. The Bears are signing free agent defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to a one-year, $10.5 million dollar deal. The deal was first reported by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.

Ngakoue was the top edge rusher left on the market and the Bears, with plenty of cap space still available, have had a hole on their defensive line for months. A signing was inevitable and general manager Ryan Poles was patient with how he approached the market. Now it’s finally come to fruition.

The 28-year old pass rusher comes to Chicago after spending the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts. In 15 games, Ngakoue totaled 29 tackles (eight for a loss) with 9.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He’s been a menace since he was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016.

Ngakoue has never notched less than eight sacks in any year and his 21 career forced fumbles are fifth-most in the NFL since 2016. He instantly upgrades a Bears pass rush that totaled just 20 sacks in 2022 (6.5 of which came from the defensive ends).

The signing is the cherry on top of a busy and fruitful offseason for the Bears and fans are thrilled that Ngakoue is coming to the Windy City. Here is how Bears Twitter/X reacted when the news was announced.

Bears showing interest in former All-Pro EDGE Justin Houston

According to ESPN 1000’s Peggy Kusinski, the Bears are showing interest in veteran edge rusher Justin Houston.

Could the Chicago Bears finally be on the verge of signing an edge rusher? According to ESPN 1000 host Peggy Kusinski, the team is showing interest in veteran Justin Houston.

Houston is one of a handful of players who has been linked to the Bears as a potential upgrade to their pass rush over the last couple of months. The 34-year old made a name for himself with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he became a dynamic pass rusher. Houston earned four consecutive Pro Bowl berths and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2014. Bears general manager Ryan Poles got to know Houston well as he was in the Chiefs front office during his peak.

After eight years and 78.5 sacks with the Chiefs, Houston joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2019. He played under current Bears head coach Matt Eberflus for two seasons and totaled 21 sacks in that time. Eberflus was the Colts defensive coordinator from 2018-2021.

Most recently, Houston spent the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Despite coming off the bench for the majority of the season, Houston totaled 21 tackles (seven for a loss), 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. Now he’s looking for a new team and the Bears are an ideal fit.

Though Houston won’t provide the same impact he had earlier in his career, his presence would be a boost for a struggling Bears pass rush that totaled just 20 sacks last season. He could come off the bench in obvious passing situations, pin his ears back, and rush the quarterback, while also serving as a mentor for young players such as Trevis Gipson and Dominque Robinson.

The Bears and Houston make sense on paper given the familiarity with Poles and Eberflus, but will the sides align on a deal? Kusinski reports it could come down to money and it’s a waiting game at this point. But if the Bears want to upgrade their defensive line, now is the time as they get ready to begin training camp practices on Wednesday.

Khalil Mack lands on PFF’s All-Decade Top 101 of 2010s list

Bears OLB Khalil Mack is one of the best edge rushers in the NFL, and his dominance earned him recognition from PFF.

While Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace has been criticized for swinging and missing with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, he has been credited with bringing a generational talent in outside linebacker Khalil Mack to the franchise.

In just two seasons, Mack has had a significant impact on Chicago’s defense, which has been a top-five unit for two straight seasons — including a down year in 2019.

Not that I need to tell you that Mack is a darn good football player. But his dominance has earned him a spot on Pro Football Focus’ All-Decade Top 101 list from the 2010s, where he clocked in at No. 17.

In his first year in the league, Khalil Mack was already one of the best run-defending edge rushers in football; by Year 2, he had become an elite pass-rusher; and in his third season, he became a game-changing wrecking machine. Four of his six seasons in the NFL have earned an overall PFF grade above 90.0, and he has never had a grade lower than 86.0. Only coming into the league in 2014 worked against Mack, who has been among the very best players at any position since he came into the NFL.

There’s a reason the Bears made Mack the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history — and traded a pair of first-round picks, among others, for him. Mack is arguably the best edge rusher in the league, and even when he’s not making game-changing plays — which he is known for — he’s impacting the game immensely.

Pace certainly has some regrets during his tenure in Chicago, but Mack is definitely not one of them.

[vertical-gallery id=444804]

[lawrence-related id=445566,445499,445512,445443]

Twitter reacts to Bears signing pass rusher Robert Quinn – they’re ready for some football

The Bears bolstered their dominant defense by signing Robert Quinn. And it’s safe to say this addition went over better than Jimmy Graham.

The Chicago Bears bolstered their already dominant defense with the addition of pass rusher Robert Quinn. Chicago agreed to terms with Quinn on a five-year deal worth $70 million with $30 million guaranteed.

The Bears are also releasing former first-round pick Leonard Floyd, which will free up $13.2 million in cap space Floyd was due with his fifth-year option.

Quinn had an impressive year for the Cowboys last season, where he notched 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Imagining Quinn and Khalil Mack, along with Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman, getting after the quarterback is almost too good to imagine.

Yet, it’s reality.

And it’s safe to say that this free-agent move went over exactly the opposite that the Jimmy Graham signing did yesterday.

Even the NFC East appreciates the move.

Let us not forget what opposing teams will have to deal with next season.

Now, if only the Bears can fix the offense.

[lawrence-related id=440239,440227,440214,440202,440183]

What should Bears do with Leonard Floyd?

With the start of the new league year just a few days away, Bears GM Ryan Pace has an important decision to make regarding Leonard Floyd.

With the start of the new league year just a few days away, Bears general manager Ryan Pace has an important decision to make regarding one of his former first-round draft picks.

No, not quarterback Mitchell Trubisky — although that issue certainly needs to be addressed — but outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.

The Bears picked up Floyd’s fifth-year option last year — a price tag valued at $13.2 million. But Pace needs to decide, in a year where the salary cap is tight for Chicago, if they should keep Floyd or release him before his salary becomes fully guaranteed on March 18.

While the Bears insist they like where Floyd is at, his production hasn’t been anything to rave about. Floyd’s sack total has declined every season since he entered the league in 2016. Last season, Floyd had two sacks in the season opener against the Packers. He had just one sack in the final 15 games.

Pace has just four days to decide whether Floyd’s potential is worth the $13.2 million he’s owed in 2020.

With the Bears recently signing inside linebacker Danny Trevathan to a three-year extension worth $24 million, Floyd’s future becomes even murkier.  There were already NFL teams that believe Floyd will become a cap-casualty, and Trevathan’s extension — coupled with Floyd’s price tag — makes Floyd a prime candidate for a cap casualty.

What do you think Bears fans? Should the Bears keep or part ways with Floyd before Wednesday?

[polldaddy poll=10520676]

[lawrence-related id=439866,439733,439828,439815]

SI says Leonard Floyd, Trey Burton are on hot seat in 2020

Just about a month away from the new league year, the Bears don’t have long to free up some salary cap space heading into free agency.

We’re just about a month away from the new league year, which means the Bears don’t have long to free up some salary cap space heading into free agency.

When discussing potential cap casualties this offseason, cornerback Prince Amukamara tops the list. He’s due to make $10 million in 2020, and the Bears can save $9 million by releasing him.

Aside from Amukamara, who are some Bears players that could find themselves looking for a new team this spring?

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and tight end Trey Burton could find themselves without a job in Chicago.

Bears LB Leonard Floyd: The Bears thought a breakout season was coming from Floyd in 2019. Instead, he finished with three sacks. I’m sure GM Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy would like to give the former top-10 pick another year. The trouble, for the cap-strapped Bears, is that his $13.2 million lump-sum option for 2020 would be an easy place to yield a significant amount of financial breathing room.

Bears TE Trey Burton: Chicago has a tight cap situation, and Burton’s coming off a rough year that ended on IR. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bears conduct a complete overhaul at his position.

The Bears have said they feel good about Floyd — although they note that they’d like to see more production out of him in terms of sacks. But are they ready to shell out $13.2 million to an unproven edge rusher rather than spend that money elsewhere and target a young prospect in the NFL Draft?

Given that Floyd’s fifth-year option was guaranteed only for injury, the Bears could get out of that deal before March 18.

Then there’s Burton, who came to Chicago with high expectations two years ago. While he was productive in 2018, injury ultimately sidelined him in 2019.

While cutting Burton would certainly help Pace move on from what appears to have been a mistake, it would only free up $1.05 million in cap space and cost the Bears a $7.5 million in dead money. Next year would be an entirely different story. If Chicago cuts him then, it can save $7.1 million in cap space, with a $1.75 million dead-money hit.

[lawrence-related id=438086,438075,438060,437418]