The Bears have struggled to find quality pass-rushers for a few years now. No team had fewer sacks in 2022 than the Bears did.

It will be interesting to see if the team can add a top prospect at the position in the 2023 NFL Draft. With the ninth pick in the first round, the Bears should have several options on the board, including Lukas Van Ness, Tyree Wilson, Nolan Smith, or Myles Murphy just to name a few. 

One player will not completely transform this unit, but there could be an opportunity to land a significant upgrade after the 2023 season. 

The Washington Commanders have reportedly declined the fifth-year option of star defensive end Chase Young. The news comes after two-straight injury-marred seasons for the former second-overall pick. 

When healthy, Young is one of the best pass-rushers in the league. In his rookie season in 2020, Young won Defensive Player of the Year after putting up 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 15 games. 

Unfortunately for Young, multiple injuries have allowed the lineman to get just 1.5 sacks in the two seasons since. Due to the inconsistencies and the depth on Washington's roster, the team perhaps views Young as expendable. Had his option been picked up, Young would have made just over $17M in 2024. Instead, Young will enter free agency a year earlier than expected. 

2023 will be a key year for Young. Can he stay healthy and rebuild his value, setting up for a big payday after the season? Or will he be plagued by injury and inconsistency once again? 

If Young can stay healthy in 2023, the Bears should be interested. Only the Houston Texans are currently projected to have more cap space than the Bears in 2024, so Poles should be able to outbid the competition. 

The Bears employ a 4-3 defense similar to the Commanders, so Young would be a natural fit at one of the end spots. When healthy, Young has proven he can be one of the most effective pass-rushers in the league. This is the type of upside that the Bears are currently lacking.