Why Yannick Ngakoue is perfect for the Chicago Bears right now

The Chicago Bears have had a great offseason so far. In the first wave of free agency, the team added a ton of talented guys like T.J Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, and Nate Davis. The Bears also added a ton of talent in the draft with guys like Darnell Wright, Gervon Dexter, Zacch Pickens, Tyler Scott, and Roschon Johnson. The Bears filled many holes and should be much improved heading into the upcoming 2023 season.

The one area that still remains a significant area of concern is the edge rusher spot. The Bears recorded the lowest amount of sacks by any team last year and the team sack leader last year was rookie safety Jaquon Brisker with four sacks. This was a very sharp drop-off from the season before when Robert Quinn set the team's sack record with 18.5.

The Chicago Bears did add to the group with the signing of guys like DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green. Walker had a breakout season with the Titans last year, notching 7.5 sacks. This was the best of his career, and the hope is that he can generate around the same total. But with only one year of production, it's hard to know if last year was a fluke or not.

Green was always brought in to be a rotational guy who should generate around four sacks a season. Other than those two, the Chicago Bears pass rushing unit remained about the same. Walker will mostly get the start on one side and the thinking at the moment is Trevis Gipson will start on the other side. Most expect the Bears to be at the bottom of the sack leaderboard again unless they make a move and add some more talent to that group.

Chicago Bears Free Agent Target: Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE

Yannick Ngakoue is the best available free agent still on the open market and would very much be the number one guy for the Bears if he were to come to the windy city. At 28 years old, Ngakoue is still on the right side of 30 and his production has been amazing since being drafted in the third round back in the 2016 draft.

Playing his first four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars he generated 37.5 sacks over those four years. He has since bounced around the league and has been traded three times over the last three seasons but has still produced at a high level never dipping below eight sacks. He has played a season each with both the Raiders and Colts and over those last two seasons putting up 19.5 sacks.

The Chicago Bears will likely have to pay him between $10 and $15 million per season on what would likely be a two-year deal. Ngakoue would be a valuable addition to the room and be the main guy until the Bears find their true number-one edge rusher down the road.