4 reasons the Chicago Bears should stay away from this potential free agent

Considering the Chicago Bears have plenty of money to spend and a glaring need for pass rushers, it's likely they add more talent to the edge position this offseason. The list of potential free agents, as it currently stands, is enticing.

There's one name, however, that shouldn't be as high of a priority as the others.

The Chicago Bears should consider options outside of Danielle Hunter this off season

Names like Josh Allen and Brian Burns seem like two who won't even make it to the first round of free agency. For teams looking to add an edge player on their team this free agency, consider those names "The Unlikely Ones."

Danielle Hunter, however, is a name that's being reported as one the Chicago Bears are 'very high' on.

Hunter could be the option as for who the Bears pair alongside Montez Sweat, however, there's reason to believe he isn't the best option when all things are considered. Danielle Hunter is a talented pass rusher, but is he the right pass rusher for the Chicago Bears right now?

No, he isn't. That's not to say he would be bad on the Bears, but the other factors playing into the overall product make Danielle Hunter a lower option than others.

In fact, there are four reasons Danielle Hunter shouldn't be a high-priority free-agency signing for the Chicago Bears.

Reason No. 1: Danielle Hunter will be [almost] 30 to begin next season

In the NFL, players usually don't play until they're 40 years old. That's something a rare breed of human can do, and the played position is a major factor in that. Kickers and punters could have a much longer career than running backs, as the wear and tear kickers and punters go through doesn't compare to that of a running back.

Edge rushers, for example, don't necessarily play close to 40 on a consistent basis. Once edge rushers turn 30, that seems to be the end of the peak era. Khalil Mack— a known athletic freak— is 32 and somehow still putting up incredible numbers. Outside of Mack, there isn't a 30-year-old player in the top 10 in sacks for the 2023 season.

Including Khalil Mack, there were four total players in the top 30 in sacks last year. Those four players: are Jadeveon Clowney (30), Leonard Floyd (31), Khalil Mack (32), and Denico Autry (33).

For a team that traded away an aging Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn under Ryan Poles, it doesn't seem like a move Poles would make to bring in an aging pass rusher.

Reason No. 2: Danielle Hunter's market value is far too high

As the Chicago Bears have learned with Roquan Smith and Khalil Mack, Ryan Poles doesn't hand contracts to anyone. Big contracts for older players aren't something the Bears have done under Poles, and that doesn't seem likely to end this season.

While a minimal factor, injury history is clearly something Ryan Poles pays attention to, and Hunter's torn pec in 2021 is definitely something being monitored before making a decision on signing him.

Per Spotrac, Danielle Hunter's projected market value is at $20 million AAV, with a projected three-year deal worth $60,114,213. This would make him a top 10 highest-paid OLB in the league at No. 7 between Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. With Montez Sweat as the No. 3 highest-paid OLB in the league, it doesn't make sense for Poles to double-dip in this area.

Considering who the Chiefs were able to win Super Bowl LVIII with, as well as Ryan Poles' involvement with the Chiefs prior to the Bears, double-dipping at one position doesn't seem like a move the Bears would do.

If the Chicago Bears were to do this, the Bears would be paying $64.5 million for two positions on the defensive line. It'd be a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it'll pay off for 'em.

Reason No. 3: Sack production doesn't show full picture

While sack production is a good stat to look at, the Chicago Bears shouldn't get swept away by that singular stat. When looking at the big picture, Hunter isn't the top-end player he's looking to be paid as.

Under Brian Flores, the Vikings were the most blitz-heavy defense in the entire league. On 51.5% of defensive plays, the Vikings blitzed. If Danielle Hunter were brought to the Bears, he'd be going to a defense that blitzed 22.2% of the time, which is more than 50% fewer times than with Minnesota.

When a defense blitzes more frequently, that brings more potential snaps where Hunter is getting a free shot at the quarterback. With the Chicago Bears, that style of play isn't rewarded as frequently due to the lower blitz percentage.

With the other options available for the Chicago Bears at the edge position, breaking the bank for Danielle Hunter doesn't seem like the best idea possible. It's not a bad one, but it isn't the best.

Reason No. 4: The Bears have better, cheaper, younger options at EDGE

While Danielle Hunter is an intriguing free agent, the Chicago Bears could do better for cheaper and younger. It's more and more likely with each day that passes that Caleb Williams will be the Bears' No. 1 pick this upcoming draft. If that's true, that leaves No. 9 open.

Players like Jared Verse, Dallas Turner, and Laiatu Latu have emerged as options for the Chicago Bears in the draft at pick No. 9, but there are other options if they don't want to use a draft pick on their next edge rusher.

Current free agents like A.J. Epenesa, James Houston, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Bryce Huff have been names murmured as possible free agents the Bears could pursue, and there's one name that sticks out from the rest.

Of the names above, A.J. Epenesa would be my choice. No, not just because I watched him at the University of Iowa. Well, okay, maybe that influences it a little.

At a projected salary of $5.6 million per Spotrac, Epenesa brings qualities Matt Eberflus looks for in a defensive end at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds. Epenesa will be 26 at the beginning of this upcoming season, which makes him a significantly younger option than Danielle Hunter.

When players move from team to team, it's good to be able to take someone in and know you're going to have them for years to come. With Danielle Hunter, it's less likely that he'll be available at a high level four years down the road. With A.J. Epenesa, those worries are lesser, as he'd be turning Danielle Hunter's age by the time those four years are up.

All-in-all, if the Chicago Bears sign Danielle Hunter in free agency, there will be things to be happy about. However, it's a move that opens the door for more bad than good.