The Chicago Bears used this offseason to make additions across the roster to replace departures and add juice elsewhere. One spot where they didn't make any significant additions came at edge rusher.
And that's surprising since they were tied for 28th in the NFL in team sacks (35). Montez Sweat led the way with 10 sacks, but the Bears could use another force up there, which makes sense why signing Joey Bosa makes sense for the Windy City.
Bears should consider signing Joey Bosa ahead of minicamp
Bosa is a 10-year veteran, but he spent last season with the Buffalo Bills. Over 15 games with them, he was an impactful player off the edge for them. Bosa finished with 29 total tackles, 16 QB hits, five sacks, and five forced fumbles.
In addition, he tallied 47 total pressures, 30 hurries, and two batted passes. According to Pro Football Focus, Bosa had a 79.3 overall grade (17th among 115 graded edge defenders) and an 88.7 pass rush grade (7th among 115 graded edge defenders).
While Bosa isn't in his prime anymore, he's a pass rusher who can still get into the backfield to disrupt the quarterback. Over 10 seasons with the Chargers and Bills, the 30-year-old has compiled 372 total tackles, 172 QB hits, 96 TFLs, and 77 sacks.
ESPN's Matt Bowen released an article discussing the best remaining free agents, and Bosa was third on the list.
"Averaging 36.3 snaps per game for the Bills, he had 5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 42 pressures. Bosa should be viewed as a situational rusher who can still win with speed-to-power. His effort level also leads to production late in the play."
And if he were a situational pass rusher for Chicago, that would be ideal. The Bears still believe in Austin Booker and think he can make an impact in his third season. Not only would Bosa give them another option off the edge, but he would also provide Booker with a proven veteran to learn from.
Having someone who can make plays on the field and pass down knowledge to younger players on the team is often underrated. The Bears have their mandatory minicamp set for June 9-11. The Bears have enough time to get Bosa signed and ready to roll for minicamp before training camp begins in July.
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The Bears currently have $11 million in cap space per OvertheCap, which gives them enough money to get Bosa into the deal. A one-year, heavily incentivized deal would make sense for both sides and should be something Chicago considers with Bosa to bolster their pass rush.
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