Following Tuesday's practice at Halas Hall, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus sat down with the "NFL on CBS" crew, where they discussed a variety of topics ranging from the team's upcoming joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals to analysis on Caleb Williams's first professional outing on Saturday.
When asked about the budding defense that took over during the latter part of last season, Eberflus mentioned the "Tez effect," a phenomenon felt after the trade deadline move to acquire Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders. Eberflus praised Sweat's ability to affect the offense both in the run and pass game, but the coach may have inadvertently peeled back the curtain on the front office's next roster move:
"He demands attention," Eberflus stated regarding Sweat. "That helps free up the other rushers, and that's so important ... to have a guy like that. When you can have two it's even better, and that's what we're searching to do here coming forward."
Did Matt Eberflus just give away that the #Bears are trying to get someone opposite of Montez Sweat? 👀
— Sky Kruse (@KruseSports_) August 13, 2024
With a couple guys on the block do you think the #Bears make a move? 🤔
Via @CBSSports https://t.co/mFgRmgX0Ba pic.twitter.com/G4Xrnkni9s
Coming from a background as a defensive coach, Eberflus certainly understands the importance of the edge rusher position, and the team's successful acquisition of Sweat might be enough cause to take another shot at the trade market. Notably, Haason Reddick recently demanded a trade (after being moved once this offseason already), and teams are reportedly calling up the New England Patriots regarding the availability of veteran edge rusher Matthew Judon.
Multiple teams have inquired about trading for pass rusher Matthew Judon amid his contract stalemate with the #Patriots, per sources.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 12, 2024
Judon is due $6.5M in the final year of his deal. New England made a contract offer to Judon this summer, which Judon did not accept. pic.twitter.com/fEfeNBVxwo
It is unclear exactly how the two players listed above would realistically fit the Bears' defensive identity, and the New York Jets have already come out and said that they do not plan to move Reddick. However, the point that the Bears are still looking to add to the position remains and they could be looking to make a move sooner rather than later.
The team still has over $20 million in available cap space and a healthy amount of draft capital moving forward, so there are plenty of resources at the ready to chase another great pass rusher opposite Sweat. Still, despite flashy recent signings and trades, the Bears ultimately desire to build their roster primarily through the draft, and will likely give players like Austin Booker every chance they can get to see the field in 2024.
There are not a ton of players readily available at the position, and even fewer who truly match the physical identity that the Bears seem to covet on the defensive line. However, if there's one thing that has been learned over the Ryan Poles/Matt Eberflus regime, it is that they are willing to take a swing on a player, and they are in a great position to add a talented edge rusher ahead of the start of the regular season if they so choose.
Obviously, it was an entirely different scenario with different coaches and executives, but it was only six years ago when the Chicago Bears traded for superstar defensive end Khalil Mack just days before the start of the 2018 season. It is generally unlikely that a player of his talent is ever available for trade, let alone that close to the start of the season, but this new-aged Bears team always has some savvy tricks up their sleeves, and it might not be long before the defensive line has another workhorse to make the entire unit that much better.