The Chicago Bears have a new pass rusher and it's not someone that was near the top of the wish list of many fans this offseason.
With Khalil Mack returning to the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year deal, the Bears moved in the direction of former Indianapolis Colts edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo. Despite having mixed results in his first four seasons with the Colts, the Bears are paying Odeyingbo as if he will be the answer to their need for an edge rusher on the opposite side of Montez Sweat.
Odeyingbo inked a three-year deal with the Bears worth $48MM. Given the size of the deal, it feels like a safe bet to say that the Bears will not be trading for Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are shopping Hendrickson for what is believed to be a package of Day 2 picks, something the Bears can afford with multiple second-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Bears can be ruled out as Trey Hendrickson suitor
While the Bears have the draft capital to trade for Hendrickson, the main reason why the Bengals are shopping Hendrickson is the fact that he is in line for a new contract. Considering Hendrickson has been among the sack leaders in recent seasons, and was the runner-up in the AP Defensive Player of the Year award last season, he is due for a contract that would likely rival, if not pass, what Montez Sweat is earned. Sweat signed a four-year contract extension with the Bears for just under $100MM when the Bears traded for him in 2023. There isn't a scenario where Ryan Poles would want to tie up that amount of money into three edge rushers.
However, the fact that Hendrickson could have been had for a package of Day 2 draft picks and new contract does speak to the risk the Bears are taking with Odeyingbo. Odeyingbo has yet to prove he is capable of being able to consistently get to the quarterback over the course of his career. If those inconsistencies struggle, this contract would look like a tremendous reach for the Bears and Poles.