For now, the Chicago Bears are not in the market for a veteran edge rusher as they lean into the idea of going with who they have and getting more out of them. But that could change as training camp and preseason games go on, and one easy fit, Cameron Jordan, is now officially off the table as he heads back to the New Orleans Saints for what he says will be his final NFL season.
However, there are still some name-brand veteran edge rushers available. The Bears don't have to project and hope someone emerges opposite Montez Sweat, with no fallback plan. And even if Austin Booker (as an example) does emerge as a force this season, you can never have enough pass rushers.
Over the last few months, the Bears have been matched with just about any available edge rusher that can be thought of. Some are, of course, better-looking fits than others, whatever the reasons may be (cost, performance, ideal role, etc.).
As a theoretical Super Bowl contender, the Bears are also a fairly appealing destination for a veteran edge rusher.
Analyst brings a certain edge rusher back into the conversation for the Bears
During his weekly appearance on 104.3 The Score's "Rahimi, Harris and Grote", Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk was asked, in the wake of Jordan no longer being available, if someone who is still available might be most able to help the Bears' pass rush.
"Joey Bosa, if he's healthy", Florio said. "I think that makes the most sense."
Florio mentioned the Bears still "kicking around the edges" of a trade for Maxx Crosby, but that's a potential conversation for later in the season if the Las Vegas Raiders are headed for another dismal campaign. He also stepped onto the Von Miller bandwagon, calling the future Hall of Famer "intriguing", while noting the question the Bears may (and should) have about what an older player can actually provide late in the season when it's going to be needed most.
Injuries have definitely sapped Bosa of the form that once earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year and four Pro Bowl selections over his first six NFL seasons. But he had a nice little rebound with the Buffalo Bills last season, with five sacks, 47 pressures, and five forced fumbles over 15 games as he earned the 10th-best pass rush grade among edge rushers from Pro Football Focus.
As a part-time player at this stage of his career, Bosa would be a nice fit for the Bears' edge rusher mix. Based on the comments his brother, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, gave to Vic Tafur of The Athletic last month, his timeline to sign with anyone also seems to align with when the Bears would sign someone--if they do.
Nick Bosa on Joey Bosa: “He is working on his golf game. I don’t think he’s too concerned with football right now.”
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) May 28, 2026
No veteran of Bosa's ilk wants to go through an offseason program that's mostly voluntary anyway. Being present on Day 1 of training camp may not be very desirable either, if any team with interest in him would even require it.
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Bosa continually coming up as a perceived fit is not especially meaningful if those who work in Halas Hall don't agree. But he absolutely should be high on the list of options the Bears would call if their current edge rusher plan fails to take hold, and there's a case for not waiting to see if that plan works as hoped before signing him.
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