It may not be in the first round, with a deep class at the position allowing for a wait, but it's a lead-pipe lock the Chicago Bears will take an edge rusher at some point early in the upcoming draft.
Within that idea, having that incoming rookie take on a big immediate role might be a big ask. Dayo Odeyingbo is hard to count on for anything after a disappointing first season as a Bear that was shortened by a Achilles' tear. And while optimism about Austin Booker is high, there's a bit of unpredictable projection involved with him.
So the Bears could pivot toward someone who's on the free agent market, and there are some solid-looking edge rusher options left.
Alex Kennedy of Pro Football Network has veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney as one of his top remaining free agents as the draft approaches, and the Bears among three top proposed landing spots for the former No. 1 overall pick.
"Jadeveon Clowney is a pass-rush mercenary for hire, and he still does it at a high level. He’s played for seven teams over the last eight years, but he’s coming off an 8.5-sack season for the Dallas Cowboys and has reached that mark in three of his last five seasons."
"Though Clowney missed a few games due to injury and stepped into more of a rotational role for Dallas, he ranked No. 15 in pass-rush win rate among edge rushers at 16.7%. He’ll likely sign onto another one-year deal, but he’s still a quality pass rusher entering Year 13 of his NFL career. He’s an attractive option for a contender looking for pass-rush help."
Jadeveon Clowney could solve a lot of the Bears' edge rusher problems
Clowney has not had the kind of NFL career that was easy to forecast for him when the Houston Texans took him No. 1 overall in the 2014 draft. But his longevity and all-around ability as an edge defender stand out.
On the "mercenary" front, Kennedy is right on the money. The timing of his release by the Carolina Panthers last offseason (May 8) played a role in his not signing with the Cowboys until after Week 1, but Clowney signed on March 27 or later in four straight offseasons before that. In three straight (2021-2023), he signed on April 14 or later.
At this point, with that track record of being willing to wait, Clowney probably won't be signing anywhere until after the draft. A reunion with the Baltimore Ravens (who he played for in 2023) seems to be a possibility, but a team like the Bears would likely also be on his radar, and several teams could have some level of interest in him.
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Regardless of what they do to add to the position in the draft, a reasonable one-year deal to bring Clowney in as a known quantity for their edge rusher mix makes all kinds of sense for the Bears. Perhaps, after other teams remove themselves from the list of potential suitors in the draft, a deal will come together.