GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have both said the Chicago Bears remain engaged on the free agent and trade markets, searching for pass rush help. They acknowledge the team might not have the juice necessary to take on some of the better passing attacks in the league. Trevis Gipson and DeMarcus Walker don't seem like the combination opponents will dread. That is why names like Yannick Ngakoue and Frank Clark keep getting mentioned as possible solutions.
Both remain available. Still, it's always important to remember this Bears regime has specific parameters they stick to when acquiring talent. If that holds true here, the name fans should be watching is Jadeveon Clowney.
Clowney makes the most sense for the Chicago Bears.
#1 - He fits their profile
Poles and Eberflus have made it clear since last off-season that they have specific parameters for players they acquire. They need to have good size, good length, and be good athletes. They have almost never strayed from those requirements. Clowney is 6'5, 266 lbs, and boasts 34-inch arms. He also has wide receiver speed and explosion. From a purely physical standpoint, the veteran defensive end checks every box this Bears regime looks for in its players.
#2 - He'll be comparatively cheap
For as big of a name as he's been over the years, nobody can say Clowney was too expensive. Cleveland paid him a combined $19 million over the past two years. That is more than affordable under normal circumstances. The Chicago Bears might be able to get him even cheaper than that. Part of it is because he turned 30 years old in February, but it's due to him missing five games last year due to ankle and concussion problems. Healthy has always been a contentious subject with Clowney. He's only played one entire season in his career. The Bears have plenty of leverage in money negotiations.
#3 - Pass rush isn't the only thing he can do
One thing people easily forget about this defense under Eberflus is the defensive aren't solely required to be pass rushers. They must be able to hold up against the run as well. People talk about Ngakoue and Clark. Yes, their ability to harass the quarterback is well-known. What nobody talks about is how below-average they've been in their careers against the run. Ngakoue has never had a run defense grade of 60 or more. Clark has failed to do it in any of the past three seasons. Clowney has grades of at least 74 or better in seven of his nine seasons, including 2022. The Bears can trust him against the run.
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