The Chicago Bears did not trade for four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon, but they could turn to a familiar face with more sacks than Judon to help strengthen their defensive end position for the 2024 season.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Bears have “been talking to Yannick Ngakoue” about perhaps re-signing with the team for the coming season. The 29-year-old is among the best edge rushers still available on the 2024 free agent market.
Ngakoue had a dismal season for the Bears in 2023, after earning a one-year, $10.5 million contract in August. He started 13 games opposite veteran DeMarcus Walker—and, later, Montez Sweat after the Bears’ midseason trade—but finished with a career-low four sacks and 34 pressures before breaking his ankle in Week 14.
As disappointing as Ngakoue’s first season in Chicago was, the 2017 Pro Bowler remains a highly skilled pass rusher. He has at least eight sacks in each of his previous seven seasons and 69 sacks in his career, surpassing trade options such as Judon (66.5), Trey Hendrickson (59.5), and Haason Reddick (58).
Ngakoue also improved after the Bears acquired Sweat at the October 31 trade deadline, despite the former’s season-ending injury limiting the two just five games together. If Ngakoue is given a full season to work opposite Sweat, he may be able to repeat his past pass-rushing success for the Bears in 2024, providing them with a much-needed lift.
Yannick Ngakoue leads the Bears’ free-agent DE options.
If the Bears want to add another seasoned pass rusher to their squad before the 2024 season, Ngakoue is one of the best free agents available.
As of August 20, the edge-rusher market had largely vanished. Many top-tier players signed with clubs during the first few rounds of 2024 free agency in the spring, while other veterans, such as Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Lawson, have landed jobs with teams over the last month of NFL training camps when needs have arisen.
That leaves Ngakoue and a few other near-30 veterans at the top of the rankings. Justin Houston (35), Markus Golden (33), Shaq Barrett (32) and Romeo Okwara (29) are all unsigned free agents, but only Houston has more sacks (112) than Ngakoue.
The main question is Ngakoue’s health, but the Bears have likely already answered the most of their doubts about his ankle. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune said 670 The Score in May that the team had been following his recuperation process during the winter, leaving the door open for the two to reunite in 2024.
Ngakoue also tested his ankle at a roster workout for the Miami Dolphins on July 24. The Dolphins ultimately passed on him in favour of re-signing the familiar Ogbah to bolster their defence, but his desire to work out for a team suggests his ankle is in good shape.
According to Over the Cap, the Bears have approximately $21.4 million in effective cap space for the 2024 season, but they would not likely have to pay nearly as much to add Ngakoue to their defence as they did in 2023. Consider that an option until Ngakoue signs elsewhere — or the Bears find another way to fill their pass-rushing void.
According to Over the Cap, the Bears have approximately $21.4 million in effective cap space for the 2024 season, but they would not likely have to pay nearly as much to add Ngakoue to their defence as they did in 2023. Consider that an option until Ngakoue signs elsewhere — or the Bears find another way to fill their pass-rushing void.
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