NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (7) during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Chicago Bears see new veteran pass rushing target suddenly emerge

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated May 8, 2025 1:37 PM ET

The Chicago Bears are set to host their rookie minicamp on Friday. The Bears will have their first opportunity to see what their draft picks can do on the practice field and evaluate undrafted players for positions of need on the roster.

The Bears have a few areas that need a boost before training camp. Chicago needs better production at running back, depth at safety, and linebacker. The Bears also have a concern at defensive end.

General manager Ryan Poles did not take a defensive end in the draft. The Bears added Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency, who has questionable numbers in the sack department. Chicago does not have a guaranteed producer at DE to put across from Montez Sweat.

Jadeveon Clowney appears on the free agent market

Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN , a veteran defensive end became available on Thursday. The Carolina Panthers released Jadeveon Clowney.

“Clowney was due $8.525M in salary, $2M of which is guaranteed,” Fowler wrote. “Panthers explored a potential trade on draft week, as @DNewtonespn previously mentioned, and went heavy on pass rushers on Day 2 of draft. Three-time Pro Bowler now a free agent.”

Clowney was due $8.525M in salary, $2M of which is guaranteed. Panthers explored a potential trade on draft week, as @DNewtonespn previously mentioned, and went heavy on pass rushers on Day 2 of draft.

Three-time Pro Bowler now a free agent. https://t.co/kx0vkLFlr5

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 8, 2025

The Chicago Bears could platoon Clowney in the DE rotation

NFL: London Games Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker (94) leaves the field after an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

Clowney was the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft by the Houston Texans. He’s spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens.

At 32, Clowney has appeared in 140 games and started in 127. He’s recorded 58 sacks, 409 tackles, and 15 forced fumbles in his 11-year NFL career. He recorded 5.5 sacks, four passes defensed, and 46 tackles in 2024.

Clowney would be an ideal veteran for the Bears to add because they could platoon him into the rotation on passing downs while allowing Austin Booker and Odeyingbo to play on early downs.