Why Chicago Bears may not pursue Yannick Ngakoue
The Chicago Bears were not going to fill all of their needs in free agency, and we all knew that. However, they still have huge holes on the defensive line, especially at edge rusher. DeMarcus Walker is technically big free agent addition, but he is a guy who can rush from the inside and outside, and ideally, he may be your fifth rusher.
They still need at least one edge rusher, but probably two. They could even add more if they wanted to push Dominque Robinson to the roster edge. So, the Chicago Bears have a need at edge rusher, Yannick Ngakoue is the best edge rusher on most free agency lists, there have been people connecting these two together.
Chicago Bears may not pursue Yannick Ngakoue
This is because Ngakoue really does not fit what Matt Eberflus does. People may think because he was on the Colts he played for Eberflus, but he came right after Eberflus, and that signaled a change. Ngakoue is about to join his fifth team in nine seasons. There is a reason he bounces around a lot.
First, he is looking to maximize his earning potential every year and not get tied down. Second, he wears out his welcome because he does not play to the scheme. He improvizes to increase his sacks and he is lackadaisical in run defense. It makes him look better on paper, but every offseason the team that added him is ready to move on.
When you think of the HITS philosophy, the last player you think of is Ngakoue. His run defense grade was 43.7 last season, and it has always been that low. For comparison Al-Quadin Muhammad was at 57 last season.
The Chicago Bears are not going to sign a guy who is not bought into the long-term plan, will not hustle to the whistle, and could make the run defense that is already an issue an even bigger problem
Next. Bears Mock Draft: Post Free Agency. dark
Some names that are not attractive but make more sense would be Rasheem Green, Oshane Ximines, and Shaq Lawson. This is reminscent of the Chicago Bears lack of interest in Orlando Brown. It is just not a fit culturally, or scheme wise, and it makes more sense on Madden when the top edge rusher fits on the team that needs an edge rusher.