One less option exists for the Chicago Bears now among potential edge rushers if they even want to add a veteran free agent as a third or fourth behind Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo.
It might have been their best all-around option, too.
The Washington Commanders continued to go all out to get to the Super Bowl and to compete with the NFC East favorite Philadelphia Eagles by signing Von Miller to a contract for this season, according to his own account on "X."
Miller made his name with Denver but has moved around since 2021, winning a ring with the Rams and last year collecting six sacks for Buffalo.
Should the Bears Bring in a vet EDGE rusher? I think so and here’s a couple names still out there.
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) April 30, 2025
Zadarious smith: 9 sacks on two teams in 2024. had 4 sacks and 15 pressures in 8 games w the Lions.
Matthew Judon: poles tried to trade for him last year. #DaBears #Bears pic.twitter.com/HiUrgz2qIN
The Bears' third edge rusher right now for the start of training camp is either 2024 fifth-round pick Austin Booker or 2022 fifth-round pick Dominique Robinson.
Last year Booker had 1 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hits and six pressures on 283 plays.
Robinson has two sacks, four quarterback hits and 12 pressures for 876 plays in three years. Robinson's play in OTAs and minicamp impressed coach Ben Johnson.
S Elijah Hicks and DE Dominique Robinson are two of several current #Bears who have noticed a difference on the football field since starting Pilates. Hear from them & their instructor who has been working with players for over a decade tonight on Sports Xtra at 10:45pm! pic.twitter.com/K2lN0VKTs9
— Jori Parys (@JoriParys) June 29, 2025
"As we know, O-line and D-line play, it's hard to really gauge too much, but he does have a quick first step off the ball, and he lined up on our left tackles quite a bit here over the last few weeks and you could tell that he got the edge on him a few times," Johnson said.
They also have Daniel Hardy, a linebacker with the Rams who was converted to end by Matt Eberflus' team and has been splitting time in offseason work between outside linebacker and defensive end.
#Bears DE Daniel Hardy played the most special teams snaps of any player on the team with 370 snaps in 2024.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) March 5, 2025
Also led the team with 9 special teams tackles. Good to see him stick around. pic.twitter.com/nfEwuKf5WU
They also have undrafted rookies Xavier Carlton from California and Jereme Robinson from Kansas, and first-year player Jamree Kromah.
Adding a player like Miller might have given them not only another pass rusher but also a mentor with so many younger players on the roster.
Bears fans. If we get Matthew Judon. We will be in a great place. Just watching his film from last year. Worth the cost if reasonable
— Todd Kunis (@BearsDfense) July 10, 2025
Still available if they want to pursue a veteran is former Patriots and Falcons edge rusher Matthew Judon, who GM Ryan Poles unsuccessfully tried to trade for last year.
Judon is 275 pounds and a perfect fit size-wise for an end in Dennis Allen's scheme. He had 5 1/2 sacks in 17 games with 15 starts for the Falcons last year, four the previous season in only four Patriots starts due to injury, and turns 33 in mid-August.
Jadeveon Clowney, Za'Darius and Preston Smith, Carl Lawson and their own former edge players Trevis Gipson and DeMarcus Walker are among others still available.
Watch; Chicago #Bears edge rusher, Trevis Gipson with the strip sack — reminder, Gipson received permission from the Bears Brass to seek a trade to a different team. #NFL pic.twitter.com/CB25HfazHA
— Frank Grizzly. (@FrankGrizzly) August 26, 2023
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