The Chicago Bears signed free agent Yannick Ngakoue, who instantly becomes their most proven edge rusher and should boost a defense that was last in the NFL with only 20 sacks in 2022.
Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles hinted a pass rusher could be coming since back in the spring, and the wait could prove to have been worth it.
He has been on five teams since the start of the 2019 season — the Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Raiders and Colts — bouncing around in part because he’s viewed as strictly a pass rusher and a liability against the run. Defensive line coach Travis Smith was an assistant for the Raiders in 2021 when Ngakoue had 10 sacks and 23 quarterback hits, so the Bears had a good scouting report on him.
The Bears can use Ngakoue as a designated pass rusher, meaning he would play mostly in sub packages. That could result in him getting 70% of the defensive snaps or more. He joins a team that has DeMarcus Walker, Trevis Gipson, Dominique Robinson and Rasheem Green, among others, at defensive end.
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