Bears Eyeing Pro Bowl Talent to Pair Alongside Montez Sweat

The Chicago Bears have been busy this off-season, building their roster through free agency and the NFL Draft. However, they're still on the hunt for another key edge rusher to complement Montez Sweat. One familiar option could be Yannick Ngakoue, who the Bears signed to a one-year, $10.5 million contract last year just before training camp.

However, Ngakoue's performance last season was underwhelming, recording his lowest sack and pressure numbers in his eight-year career, coupled with a December ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve for the final four games. Ngakoue seems to have recovered well from his injury, as he recently posted a video on May 2 showing him participating in drills, appearing to be nearly back to full speed.

What are the chances of the Bears reuniting with Yannick Ngakoue?

The idea of the Bears reuniting with Ngakoue was initially suggested by Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron in his early 53-man roster projection. He emphasized that bringing Ngakoue back for the 2024 season seemed like a logical move. According to sources, there is mutual interest between the Bears and Ngakoue. Although no specific numbers or agreement have been reached, I'd assume it's likely to be a one-year deal at with a lower price tag than the $10 million he commanded last season.

Ngakoue's familiarity with the Bears' defense and existing chemistry with players like Sweat could be enticing. Considering last season's production might have been an outlier for Ngakoue, and the Bears' defense improved significantly towards the end of the year, bringing him back on a short, cheap contract could fill a gap at the edge position temporarily. This would give the Bears time to pursue a more permanent solution, possibly in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is rich in defensive talent. Additionally, the Bears have multiple picks, potentially allowing them to address the edge position more than once by taking multiple swings at the position.The Bears will keep a close eye on roster cuts later in the off-season and carefully consider all options. However, the potential reunion with Ngakoue seems to have some real momentum and is something worth monitoring as the off-season progresses.