Bears unlikely to pursue notable edge-rush addition?

In a mailbag answer related to Za’Darius Smith, Scott Bair of the Marquee Sports Network writes the Bears will likely only be interested in the three-time Pro Bowler on a one-year pact. Smith and many other remaining free agents will of course take deals of that length in the near future, but finances will be a key factor in determining their 2025 landing spots.

Bair predicts Smith will again look for a deal carrying an eight-figure annual average value. That has been the case for every contract in his career since his rookie pact. If the 32-year-old’s asking price for 2025 checks in at or above $10MM per season, Bair notes it is unlikely the Bears will meet it for Smith or any other veteran pass rusher in a similar situation. Any moves made along the edge between now and Week 1 will thus come at a lower price.

Last offseason, Yannick Ngakoue was floated as a name to watch regarding another Bears agreement. He operated as a full-time starter for Chicago when healthy in 2023 and was in communication with the team last summer. In the end, Ngakoue split his time between the Ravens and Patriots last season and failed to make a notable impact.

To little surprise, then, the 30-year-old is among the pass rushers still unsigned in July. The same is true of Smith – whose stated preference is to re-sign with the Lions – along with the likes of Matt Judon, Jadeveon Clowney and Von Miller. With nearly $15MM in cap space, Chicago could afford a modest investment in one of those options ahead of the regular season.

For now, though, the team is set to move forward with an EDGE depth chart once again topped by Montez Sweat. The Bears added Dayo Odeyingbo on a three-year deal in free agency, and the former Colt will be counted on to provide his new team with starting-caliber production. 2024 fifth-rounder Austin Booker is a candidate to see an uptick in usage during his second NFL season. Room exists for an addition to that group, but at least for the time being a sizable deal for any of the top options on the market should not be considered likely.