The Bears are set to bolster their edge rush with a veteran addition via trade. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Darrell Taylor is heading to Chicago from Seattle. In return, the Seahawks will receive a 2025 sixth-round pick, with the trade now finalized.
Just a day earlier, Seattle traded cornerback Michael Jackson to the Panthers, acquiring seventh-round rookie linebacker Michael Barrett in return. Similarly, today’s trade sends another experienced player to a different NFC team, focusing on future prospects. Taylor, who has one year left on his contract, will have his $3.12 million base salary absorbed by the Bears after Seattle paid him a $20,000 signing bonus.
At 27 years old, Taylor missed his rookie season but has been a rotational edge player for the last three years. Since 2021, he has started 11 games, playing 44% to 46% of the snaps. His standout year was 2022, where he recorded 9.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Though his production dipped last season to 5.5 sacks, Taylor remained part of Seattle’s plans under a one-year deal that replaced a restricted free agent tender.
The Seahawks were initially open to trading Taylor before the 2023 deadline. However, after Uchenna Nwosu’s season-ending injury, they opted to keep Taylor for the remainder of the season. Moving forward, Seattle will rely heavily on Nwosu, along with recent second-round picks Boye Mafe and Derick Hall, to strengthen their edge rush.
From the Bears’ viewpoint, this trade aligns with their offseason goals. While Montez Sweat is set as the primary edge rusher, securing a seasoned complementary player has been a consistent priority. Discussions with Yann…
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