Fans expressed concerns about the Chicago Bears' edge rusher situation throughout the offseason. They felt the team didn't have enough answers at the position outside of Montez Sweat, who is coming off the worst season of his career. Signing Dayo Odenyingbo was a modest step in the right direction, but not nearly enough. The NFL has a way of exposing a weakness if you're not careful. Sure enough, the Bears have learned that lesson the hard way once again.
News came down that Austin Booker, their promising young pass rusher who was having a terrific preseason, was placed on Injured Reserve. He will miss at least the first four weeks of the season with a knee injury. Suddenly, the depth behind Sweat and Odeyingbo doesn't just look back, but is downright terrifying. The Bears are currently looking at Daniel Hardy and Dominique Robinson as their primary rotational options. Robinson has 1.5 sacks in his career. Hardy has zero.
The Chicago Bears have one of two options.
Either they add somebody from the free agent market who can give them some help, or they plan to do a lot more blitzing early this season. Tanoh Kpassagnon, who signed with the practice squad this week, is the only other option they have on hand. He's not exactly a sack specialist. As for veteran help, there are a few interesting names available. Za'Darius Smith is the most notable, coming off another strong season in Detroit. There is also former #1 pick Jadeveon Clowney and former Packers standout Preston Smith.
If none of them feel like guys you can (or want to) get, then Dennis Allen better have his creativity set to maximum. He didn't mind blitzing a lot during his years in New Orleans. The Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator can do it. Unfortunately, it almost always comes with a price. It would be wiser if the team added somebody who can limit the need for that.
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