Tag: Bears edge rushers

Bears 2022 EDGE review: Veterans take big step back

After a historic year rushing the quarterback in 2021, the Bears retooled their defensive ends and took a big step back.

The Chicago Bears wrapped the 2022 season with a 3-14 record, which culminated in a 10-game losing streak. But there’s still reasons to be optimistic about the future, including a boatload of salary cap space, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and the emergence of quarterback Justin Fields.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2022 Bears and grading every player. With the offense wrapped up, it’s time to shift to the defense, beginning with the defensive ends who couldn’t get home to the quarterback all season long.

Bears have met with several edge rushers at NFL Combine

The Bears are doing their due diligence when it comes to edge rushers heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Bears have a few needs to address on defense this offseason, among them edge rusher. While Khalil Mack saw a decline in production in an injury-riddled season for Chicago’s defense, he remains one of the best pass rushers in the league.

One of the things that general manager Ryan Pace hasn’t managed to do is find a productive edge rusher opposite Mack. Pace has a decision to make regarding Leonard Floyd, who is entering his fifth season with the Bears. He’s slated to make $13 million, but his production hasn’t been up-to-par with what was expected out of the former No. 9 overall pick.

Floyd’s sack production has dipped every season since he joined the NFL. Only, injuries weren’t to blame for his lack of production in 2019. Floyd had two sacks in the season opener against the Packers, but he managed just one sack in the final 15 games.

The Bears are doing their due diligence when it comes to edge rushers heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. Chicago met with several edge rushers at the NFL Scouting Combine.

K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU)

Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State)

Jonathan Greenard and Jabari Zuniga (Florida)

Considering Floyd’s future with the Bears remains murky — they have until March 18 to release him to avoid paying his fifth-year option — there are several alluring options at edge rusher, including some of the ones they’ve met with above.

While it sounds like Pace is content with Floyd, that’s not stopping him from doing his homework on potential replacements. Even if Pace decides to keep Floyd under the fifth-year option, his future beyond that isn’t guaranteed.

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5 EDGE prospects Bears should watch at NFL Scouting Combine

While defense isn’t the overwhelming concern for the Bears this offseason, but edge rusher still needs to be addressed.

While defense isn’t the overwhelming concern for the Bears this offseason, there are still position groups that need to be addressed, among them edge rusher.

Khalil Mack remains a force, despite a statistical dropoff in 2019, but the Bears need to find an edge rusher opposite Mack to really breathe life back into the pass rush. While Leonard Floyd remains on the roster — he’s due to make $13.2 million in 2020 — can the Bears justify retaining Floyd with his lack of production?

With that said, here are five edge rusher prospects the Bears should watch at the NFL Scouting Combine next week:

1. Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State

Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears need someone opposite Khalil Mack that can take advantage of one-on-one opportunities, and perhaps Penn State edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos is the guy for the job. Gross-Matos has a reputation for getting after the football and making plays, especially in pursuit. In the last two years at Penn State, he had 34.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks.

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