Bears just let ideal opportunity to add a top pass rusher pass them by as the team continues dragging feet going into training camp
The Chicago Bears continue to shy away from adding an edge rusher this offseason and just lost another potential option after veteran defensive end re-signed with the New Orleans Saints on a one-year deal.
The Chicago Bears have wrapped up the offseason program and are on break until training camp kicks off in late July. The coaching staff and front office remain hard at work adding new pieces to the roster, but the one addition fans have been begging for still hasn’t come to fruition.
All offseason, fans have been begging for the Bears to add a new edge rusher to the mix that can help take defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s unit over the top.
As things stand, the Bears still plan on trotting out the same starting four on the defensive line at training camp and banking on better performance from those players. It’s a bold game to play because, in the meantime, other teams are capitalizing on potential options.
Chicago Bears chances of landing veteran DE Cam Jordan just officially expired
One of those options was veteran pass rusher Cam Jordan. The former eight-time Pro Bowler has been on the market for months now and – like every veteran – a deal was expected to materialize the closer we got to training camp.
Well, that deal finally happened. The New Orleans Saints agreed to a one-year deal to bring back Jordan for a 16th season with the team that is reportedly very incentive-laden.
This entire time, one of the biggest arguments about adding a veteran pass rusher is that the Bears didn’t have any cap space to bring in such a player. This is a deal the Bears easily could have done and the incentives would have given Jordan even more motivation to be a disruptive player in a rotation off the edge.
Jordan has plenty of experience playing in Allen’s scheme and Chicago’s defensive coordinator was even asked directly about the possibility of bringing him in earlier in the offseason.
“I think my experience with him was outstanding,” Allen said of Jordan back in early May. “Cam’s going to be a Hall of Fame player, he is a Hall of Fame player. I don’t know that there’s been a ton of discussion about that. I think we feel pretty good about where we’re at and what we have. And yet, you never know what opportunities might present themselves some point down the road.”
Well, that opportunity is now out of the window.
Bears unfortunately have no choice but to take the wait and see approach at the DE position
As things stand, the Bears appear content staying put when it comes to any potential addition off the edge and actually seem to be encouraged by what they saw from the group during the offseason program.
“I’m really pleased with the teaching progression,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said about the pass rush. “I’ve been able to sit in some meetings. I love how the coaches are going about their business. I like how the players are responding to it right now. We’re all on the same page. We’re speaking the same language, and that’s always a good starting point.”
Montez Sweat will still be the leader of the pack with Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo set to mix in as well, along with second-year Shemar Turner once he returns from his ACL injury. It’s not the worst group, but far from the best. However, the Bears clearly don’t view the pass rush issue as a talent issue.
“Year two of this defense, I think things will slow down for our guys from a thinking aspect, and so we’ll be able to play faster,” Johnson explained. “That’s what I’m hopeful for with him [Montez Sweat], along with the rest of those guys up front.”