The Chicago Bears have addressed nearly every team weakness since 2024 to some extent, but one position that might potentially benefit from extra attention ahead of the 2019 season is edge rusher.
Chicago acquired Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders a few years ago and signed free agent Dayo Odeyingbo, who formerly played for the Indianapolis Colts, this summer. Shemar Turner, a second-round pick, might see some time in an edge-rushing role during his rookie season, and Austin Booker, who the Bears selected in the 2024 draft as a high-upside project, should also be considered.
The Bears have more than $10.5 million in leftover salary budget space, and there are numerous ways to boost that total in the coming weeks and months if they decide to make a significant move on the outside of the defense.
To that end, Terrence Jordan of FanSided advised that Chicago trade for Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson, the NFL’s reigning sack leader, is owed $21 million for his age-31 season and has a market value of around $63 million over a new two-year contract.
“Hendrickson is a stud that would be the best Bears pass rusher since Khalil Mack,” Jordan commented on Thursday, May 1. “It won’t be cheap to obtain him, which is probably why he wasn’t dealt when he first received clearance to seek a trade. But as long as the price isn’t too high, [Bears GM] Poles should think out a way to do it.”
The Bengals are reportedly considering releasing Germaine Pratt and Cordell Volson, which would free up up to $9 million in cap space and allow Cincinnati to bring Hendrickson back into the fold on a long-term deal, which is the only contract scenario that is likely to keep the star pass rusher in a Bengals uniform past 2025.
