Yannick Ngakoue's Positive Health Could Be Valuable To The Bears and Rookie Austin Booker

The Chicago Bears have received tremendous praise for their handling of the 2024 NFL Draft, including the selection of Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Tory Taylor, and Austin Booker. With the team's roster nearly completely set heading into the summer, the lone question remains whether Chicago could reunite with defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who has been recovering from a severe ankle injury that ended his 2023 season. This past week, Ngakoue posted a video of him displaying healthy agility, something that could lead to him re-joining the Bears before the start of the 2024 season

Yannick Ngakoue's Positive Display Of Health Could Be The Final Question To Chicago's Spectacular Offseason

Ngakoue posted a video of himself executing a cone drill, displaying his ability to turn the edge and mimic getting around an offensive tackle. The former Bears' defensive end captioned the video with "What ankle" which is a remark answering the question surrounding the health of his ankle. Although the post addresses health and strength concerns, the reliability of Ngakoue's ankle would face more thorough testing before the Bears, let alone any NFL team, were to offer him a contract. 

If Ngakoue is fully healthy, the Bears would likely have an inside track to re-sign him due to what transpired during the 2023 season. The former Pro Bowl defensive end was signed by general manager Ryan Poles during training camp and instantly became the team's top pass-rushing threat. Before the 2023 campaign, Ngakoue had recorded seven seasons of eight sacks or more. 

A potential re-signing would be especially impactful if Chicago could reunite Ngakoue with current Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat, as the two pass-rushers appeared to play well with one another in their brief time. The two Pro Bowl ends played in five games together and combined for five and a half sacks. Given the lack of any significant additions at the defensive end position during this offseason, outside of the drafting of Booker, it appears likely Chicago will bring Ngakoue back for a second year, barring any injury concerns. 

If the Bears decide to bring Ngakoue back for 2024, it will give their defense something it didn't have at the start of last season, which is pass-rusher depth. The Pro Bowl defensive end was the lone credible threat on the defensive line for the first half of 2023, which led to opposing offenses making a detailed effort to neutralize the lone threat to their quarterback. Pass-rush pressure from the defensive line is especially vital in head coach Matt Eberflus' defensive scheme, as the majority of pressure comes from the defensive linemen.

Having Sweat and Ngakoue as Chicago's top two pass-rushers to start 2024 would be a tremendous asset, given how strong the team's defense finished last season. The Bears' defense finished the year with the most interceptions in the league and was viewed as a top-ten unit towards the end of the year. With two legitimate pass-rushing threats in Sweat and Ngakoue, Eberflus' unit could take a significant step forward and be one of the league's best in 2024. 

Ngakoue's Presence Could Be Immense in Assisting With Booker's Rookie Development

If a decision to bring Ngakoue in for a second stint takes place, his presence could be felt across the defensive line, just not in helping Sweat. Chicago drafting Booker in the fifth round of the NFL Draft a few weeks ago is considered one of the better late-round selections, with high potential upside. The edge rusher from Kansas displayed an impressive mix of speed and strength when rushing the quarterback in 2023 and is landing in an ideal situation with the Bears. 

The incoming rookie will become Chicago's third pass-rusher if the team decides to re-sign Ngakoue before the start of the 2024 season. If a signing transpires, Booker can learn from two of the league's best pass-rushing defensive ends, as both Pro Bowl players have recorded multiple seasons of nine sacks or more. The amount of talent and veteran experience between Ngakoue and Sweat would be a near-perfect situation for a rookie edge rusher to develop within, especially who is being compared to having the potential of All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby. 

Having two proven sack specialists also would be beneficial for Booker, as the rookie wouldn't be under significant pressure to produce immediately. The Bears' defensive coaching staff could pick the best situations to deploy the rookie pass-rushing, given the presence of Ngakoue and Sweat. Poles would create an opposite situation for Booker as a rookie defensive end than what Dominique Robinson experienced in his rookie season of 2022 when he was relied on to be a contributor almost immediately. 

Re-signing Ngakoue would be an invaluable addition to the defensive line for multiple reasons, as it would benefit the team's best pass-rusher in Sweat and their new pass-rusher in Booker. Bringing back the defensive end would give the Bears something they have not had under Poles and Eberflus' tenure, which is a proven rotation of pass-rushers who are capable of consistently rushing the opposing quarterback. Ngakoue appearing to be healthy could be the beginning of a process that leads to a reunion with the Bears and finishes off a remarkable offseason.