The Chicago Bears had their sights set on trading for edge rusher Matthew Judon, but the New England Patriots sent him to the Atlanta Falcons instead. With Judon now off the table and the Bears still in need of a pass-rushing boost, rumors are linking Chicago to a new target.
Chicago already secured its No. 1 pass rusher with the Montez Sweat trade last season, which paid off as the 27-year-old thrived in the Bears’ defense. However, head coach Matt Eberflus is on the hunt for a complementary edge rusher to elevate the defense even further.
Judon would have been an ideal addition, but he chose to go to the Falcons, leaving the Bears without a top-tier option. With no other elite edge rushers emerging in trade rumors, Chicago is exploring other avenues.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Bears have been in discussions with free agent edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue about a contract for the 2024 NFL season.
Ngakoue, who played for Chicago last season and made 13 starts in Eberflus’ defense, recorded fewer sacks than in 2022 (9.5), but still contributed to the pass rush. Given his familiarity with the scheme and the coaching staff’s trust in him, it’s not surprising that the Bears might sign Ngakoue in the coming weeks.
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