Bears Rumors: 2 moves to make following Montez Sweat trade
By Ryan Heckman
2. Trade Yannick Ngakoue
On one hand, it would seem odd to trade your second-best pass rusher after acquiring a player like Sweat. Between Yannick Ngakoue and Sweat, the Bears might actually have a formidable pass rushing duo. So, why trade Ngakoue?
It's simple. Ngakoue is 28 years old and a known journeyman. He's good, but not great. The Bears won't extend Ngakoue now that they will likely pay Sweat on a big deal. Instead, they'll use draft capital to pair a pass rusher with Sweat in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Secondly, Ngakoue could still net a later pick for the Bears to stash in the draft. Chicago doesn't own a pick after Round 5, so if they can get a sixth rounder, for example, that would allow Poles more flexibility on Day 3 of the draft.
Last, if the Bears kept Ngakoue alongside Sweat, it would allow them a better opportunity to win some games. That sounds hilarious to say, and completely counterproductive, but with the way the season is going and how the organization is trending, the Bears need to stay focused on now getting the best draft positioning in 2024 while seeing what they have in some of the younger players who might stick around.