The Chicago Bears fan base was really hoping that a new edge rusher would have arrived in the Windy City by now, but that doesn't seem likely.
Instead, Bears general manager Ryan Poles is putting his trust in the guys they have now, including Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo, after the defense had just 33 sacks in 17 games, with only six teams having fewer. The hope is that maybe Shemar Turner will be back to play and help out more in his sophomore year, but he is still recovering from his injury.
Everyone wanted Maxx Crosby to be in a Bears uniform, but Chicago did not have the money to pay for him. Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton has the perfect solution at edge rusher that won't cost the Bears too much: trade a late 2027 draft pick for Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah.
"ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Bears don't have the financial resources to take a big swing for Las Vegas Raiders edge-rusher Maxx Crosby. If that's true, Chicago can look to bolster its pass-rushing depth with a former first-round pick.
Last August, Kansas City placed Anudike-Uzomah on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, which sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. He's made minimal impact with the Chiefs, recording 41 tackles (eight for loss), three sacks and 19 pressures. Yet Anudike-Uzomah showed brief promise during the 2024 campaign, playing 31 percent of the defensive snaps. Perhaps a restart with a new team that needs a pass-rusher would give him more opportunities to showcase his potential."
Should the Bears trade for Felix Anudike-Uzomah?
This might feel a bit too much like the Joe Tryon-Shoyinka trade from last year, as the Bears tried to go cheaper with a high-potential young player. That did not work at all, as Tryon-Shoyinka was not even a factor in the defense.
Anudike-Uzomah is younger and has two more years on his four-year, $11.82 million rookie contract. His contract fits much better with the budget the Bears are working with at the moment.
The fascinating part about Anudike-Uzomah is how fast and athletic he is compared to the other defensive ends on the team. He ran a 4.73-second 40-yard dash before the draft, proving that he can get off the line quickly.
A move like this, though, would not get the Bears fans excited at all, but it would be a good depth move for the team. Booker and Odeyingbo most likely still battle it out for the starting job, and Anudike-Uzomah will have to fit into the rotation in some way.
It would still feel as though the Bears would be more hopeful that Booker emerges in Year 3 as a breakout star. Odeyingbo's situation is more about just living up to his $48 million contract, which he has not so far.
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There is still a good chance some kind of move gets made for the Bears at defensive end, and honestly, while it isn't a sexy move, Anudike-Uzomah might end up being a better option than any they have at the moment.
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