No one can accuse the Chicago Bears of sitting on the sidelines this offseason, as the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach was supplemented by remaking the offensive line after trading for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney. However, the Bears did focus more heavily on one side of the ball this offseason.
Chicago's defense, which was always respectable in the Matt Eberflus era, lost a few pieces. The lack of pass rush quality is a problem that won't be solved by new free agent acquisition Dayo Odeyingbo alone. If he gets banged up or doesn't live up to the hype, this situation could quickly become dire.
If the Bears are to look to the free agent market as they try to land one more big name, one player who could change the entire scope of their defensive line would be former No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney, who remains without a team heading into the slower part of the offseason.
Clowney is likely only to consider teams that can help him earn a championship ring at this stage of his career after his stint with the hometown Carolina Panthers ended the way it did. If the Bears convince him of their vision, he could end up forming a hellacious tandem next to Montez Sweat.
Bears could sign pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to cap off strong offseason
Clowney has never been a player who is going to pile up 10 sacks every single year despite his physical gifts. His value comes from his ability to play the run and generate pressures without getting to the quarterback, and those traits have been so valuable that they've helped him carve out three Pro Bowls in his long career.
Clowney has 30 quarterback hits and 15 sacks over the last two years, showing that he can still be an effective pass-rusher without the same trademark athleticism that made him such a fear coming out of South Carolina.
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In the strongest division in football, the Bears have an equally strong chance of finishing last in the division once again as they do sneaking into the playoffs. Any improvement that can help take them over the line is one that Ryan Poles must consider, even if Clowney will likely have a higher financial asking price than most.
A coach like Dennis Allen, who plays a scheme very similar to ones that Clowney has thrived in over the last few years, would love to get an ultra-reliable veteran who can still cause havoc heading into what will be his 11th professional season.