The Chicago Bears, a team in the midst of rebuilding under general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, have shown promising signs of growth but are still in need of significant upgrades across their roster. As the team looks to become a more competitive force in the NFC North and beyond, one glaring area of need is their pass rush. Despite having young and talented pieces in place, the Bears’ defense has struggled to consistently get after opposing quarterbacks, ranking near the bottom in sacks for the past few seasons.
With the 2025 NFL free agency period fast approaching, the Bears are expected to target edge rushers to bolster their defense. After all, building a stout pass rush is essential in the modern NFL, where quarterbacks often dictate the flow of the game. While the Bears already have solid defensive tackles in place and an emerging linebacker group, an elite edge rusher could be the missing link that turns their defense from a middle-of-the-road unit to one capable of imposing fear on opposing quarterbacks.
As the Bears prepare to make moves in free agency, one name that continues to emerge in the rumor mill is **Yannick Ngakoue**, a highly productive and versatile edge rusher who has made an impact wherever he’s played. Let’s dive into why the Bears should pursue Ngakoue in free agency and how he could elevate their defense moving forward.
### **Why Yannick Ngakoue? A Proven Pass-Rushing Threat**
Yannick Ngakoue has been a productive edge rusher since entering the NFL in 2016, proving himself as one of the league’s top pass rushers year after year. The 28-year-old defensive end has racked up 68.5 sacks in just eight seasons and has maintained a consistent level of performance despite playing for several different teams. This kind of stability and ability to produce at a high level in various defensive schemes is exactly what the Bears need as they try to fill their pass-rushing void.
Ngakoue’s ability to disrupt the quarterback is exactly what the Bears need. In 2024, he notched 9.5 sacks, marking the fifth time in his career that he has recorded at least 8 sacks in a season. This kind of consistent production is something the Bears have lacked in recent years, as they have not had a 10-sack player since **Khalil Mack** left town in 2022. Ngakoue’s high sack numbers, combined with his ability to create pressure on passing downs, would immediately make him a key asset for Chicago’s defense.
What makes Ngakoue particularly enticing for the Bears is his pass-rush repertoire. He’s not just a one-dimensional player; Ngakoue has refined his technique over the years, including a quick first step, a relentless motor, and a wide array of pass-rush moves that keep offensive tackles on their toes. Whether rushing from the outside or standing up as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, Ngakoue has the versatility to fit into various defensive systems.
### **Filling the Bears’ Edge Rusher Void**
The Bears’ defense has several promising young players, but they’ve lacked a truly dominant edge rusher who can consistently pressure the quarterback and disrupt the offensive game plan. **Robert Quinn** was once that player but has since moved on, and **Travis Gibson** has shown flashes of potential but has not been consistent enough to be the Bears’ long-term solution. **Dominique Robinson**, another young edge rusher, has shown potential, but like Gibson, he’s still developing. The Bears need an experienced pass rusher who can come in and make an immediate impact.
Yannick Ngakoue could fill that role seamlessly. With his experience, leadership, and ability to generate pressure, he would give the Bears a much-needed boost on the edge. In Ngakoue, the Bears would be getting a player who has already proven he can excel in different defensive systems, which means he could transition to Chicago’s defense with relative ease. His ability to create disruption will free up other defenders and force quarterbacks to make quicker decisions, which could have a cascading effect on the entire defense.
Additionally, Ngakoue’s presence would make life easier for the Bears’ interior defenders, such as **Khyiris Tonga** and **Justin Jones**. With a dominant edge rusher like Ngakoue pushing the pocket from the outside, the interior defensive line would have more opportunities to collapse the pocket and generate pressure. This would create more opportunities for the entire defensive front to create havoc and make plays on the quarterback.
### **Youthful Leadership and Mentorship**
One of the more underappreciated aspects of signing a veteran like Yannick Ngakoue is the leadership and mentorship he could bring to the Bears’ young edge-rushing group. As a player who has been around for several seasons, Ngakoue has seen it all. He’s played in multiple defensive systems, experienced the ups and downs of the league, and has been a part of several successful defenses. This wealth of experience would be invaluable to younger players like **Dominique Robinson** and **Travis Gibson**, who are still developing their skills and learning the nuances of the NFL.
Ngakoue’s professionalism and his ability to take younger players under his wing could help accelerate their development and push the entire group to a higher level of play. Having a player who has been through playoff games and has played alongside some of the league’s best could help foster a winning mentality in the Bears’ young defensive players.
### **Ngakoue’s Fit in the Bears’ Defensive Scheme**
The Bears run a 4-3 base defense, which is a scheme that Ngakoue has thrived in throughout his career. His ability to get after the quarterback as a defensive end makes him an ideal fit for the Bears’ defensive system. He would line up opposite **Trevis Gipson**, with **Dominique Robinson** rotating in, giving the Bears a three-man rotation that would be tough to block for opposing offenses.
Ngakoue is also capable of playing in a 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker, which means if the Bears decide to implement more of a hybrid defense, he would be able to adapt and continue to be productive. His versatility would allow defensive coordinator Alan Williams to get creative with his play calling, sending Ngakoue on various blitz packages or standing him up in certain situations.
### **Financial Considerations: Is Ngakoue Worth the Investment?**
The biggest question regarding any free-agent pursuit is always financial. Ngakoue, while still in his prime, will likely command a sizable contract on the open market. However, his consistency and ability to elevate the defense could be well worth the investment. The Bears have significant cap space heading into 2025, which gives them the flexibility to make a splash in free agency without breaking the bank.
A multi-year deal with Ngakoue would provide the Bears with immediate stability on the edge while giving them the flexibility to address other needs over the next few years. With the team’s cap situation in good shape and the fact that they could structure the contract to spread out the cap hit, signing Ngakoue could be a win-win for both parties.
### **Conclusion: A Game-Changer for the Bears**
The Chicago Bears have plenty of room for improvement, particularly on defense, and signing Yannick Ngakoue would be a major step in the right direction. His pass-rushing ability, versatility, and leadership would provide the Bears with a much-needed boost on the edge and help solidify the defensive front for years to come. In a division that features talented quarterbacks and strong offensive lines, having a consistent pass rusher like Ngakoue could be the difference between being a fringe playoff team and a legitimate contender.
As free agency approaches, the Bears should strongly consider pursuing Ngakoue. His addition would immediately improve the defense, provide mentorship for younger players, and give the team a much-needed weapon in the pass rush. If the Bears are serious about becoming contenders in the NFC North, signing a player like Yannick Ngakoue is a move they cannot afford to overlook.
