LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — After completing a 10-man draft class and upgrading their roster at several key positions, the Bears are still missing proven production and potential from their pass rush.
The Bears didn't draft an edge rusher this year and have added just one player to that position group this offseason – veteran defensive end DeMarcus Walker, who had seven sacks for the Titans last season.
The Bears plan to explore the edge rushers who are still available on the open market, general manager Ryan Poles said Saturday evening after the draft concluded. That group is headlined by Leonard Floyd, the No. 9 overall pick of the Bears in 2016, and eight-year veteran Yannick Ngakoue.
“You want to fix everything immediately, but it’s got to work the right way,” Poles said. “The right players got to be there that fit our scheme. They want to be here. So, we can’t fix everything at a high level in one swoop. We are aware of our strengths and weaknesses, and we’re going to be opportunistic. That’s why we’ve done what we’ve done and we still have flexibility to do what we need to do to improve in different areas.
“Camp is a long ways away. We’ll stay on our toes. If something presents itself, we’ll be able to do it. We’ll be able to do it financially as well.”
The Bears had just 20 sacks in 2022, which ranked last in the NFL. They generated pressure on 15.9% of dropbacks by opposing quarterbacks, which ranked second-to-last in the league. Safety Jaquan Brisker led the Bears with four sacks on the season.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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