The Chicago Bears are in a prime position to land two top prospects in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft later this month, but the moves the front office don't make are just as important as the moves they do make in the draft.

Currently, the Bears only have four picks to address the following positions: quarterback, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive end, defensive tackle, and potentially even adding tight end or cornerback depth. 

The Bears are highly interested in adding an additional edge rusher to complement Montez Sweat on the defensive line, but who says that player will be added through the draft? Here's what ESPN's Courtney Cronin had to say about the glaring need and how the Bears' front office could address fixing it:

"But if one of the draft's top receivers, such as LSU's Malik Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze, falls to No. 9, Chicago could nab him to further help its rookie QB. That would position the Bears to sign a veteran pass-rusher after the draft, which they did last year with Yannick Ngakoue." – ESPN's Courtney Cronin 

This is certainly an option to fill the hole on the defensive line if the Bears walk out of the draft without selecting another edge rusher. If that's the case, here's four solid names that are still on the market the Bears could consider bringing in.

Emmanuel Ogbah

After being released by the Miami Dolphins due to cap constraints, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah is still on the open market heading into the draft later this month. Ogbah is still a solid player in the league, but wasn’t worth his high price tag given his age and role with his former team.

Even still, Ogbah recorded 5.5 sacks and nine QB hits for the Dolphins and his only start of the season came in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills. Under a new system that will be a better fit to his strengths, Ogbah can really be able to shine even brighter.

Ogbah should still have plenty of interested teams that would be willing to reach out following the draft if they still need to make an addition at the position. The Bears could be one of those teams and Ogbah would fit perfectly on Matt Eberflus' defense.

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Shaq Lawson

One player who could benefit from a new team to save his career is Shaq Lawson. After recording just one sack during the 2023 season for the Bills, Lawson remains unsigned going into the draft.

Over the past two seasons in Buffalo, Lawson played under the Bears' new defensive coordinator Eric Washington, who served as his defensive line coach. A potential reunion could be made for the former 19th overall pick while gaining a sizable role.

With the Bills the past two seasons, Lawson made just seven starts while playing behind a loaded defensive front. In Chicago, Lawson would get the opportunity to start opposite of Sweat and could become a bargain addition for the front office.

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Jerry Hughes

Another player who could reunite with Washington is Jerry Hughes. The 14-year veteran played under Washington during the 2020 and 2021 seasons before joining the Houston Texans. Under Washington, Hughes recorded 6.5 sacks, 18 QB hits, and four forced fumbles while starting 31 of the Bills' 32 games in that span.

The former Indianapolis Colts' first round selection still has some juice left in the tank after racking up 12.0 sacks over the last two seasons with the Texans. His role diminished in 2023 under head coach DeMeco Ryans with the Defensive Rookie of the Year, Will Anderson Jr., joining the room but he can still play at a high level.

Hughes will be 36-years-old by the time the season rolls around and by no means would be considered a long-term solution. However, he could be serviceable fix to the need on the roster and the Bears could look to replace him next year in the draft.

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Yannick Ngakoue

After a disappointing end to his 2023 season in Chicago, I'm not quite ready to rule out a return for Yannick Ngakoue. Eberflus raved about Ngakoue's leadership throughout the 2023 season and was devastated about his season-ending injury despite the lack of production on the stat sheet.

This seems like the least likely option but it's hard to see any other suitor for the 29-year-old coming off a major injury, which could roll over into next season. I've always said one team would be willing to sign Ngakoue as a midseason playoff mercenary and that could easily include the Bears if no outside addition is ever made at edge.

Bears defensive end Montez Sweat claims team’s second round pick is ready to ‘jump on the scene’ in 2024

No one would know better than him.