The Chicago Bears are almost certain to do some spending in free agency. Maybe not a full shopping spread, but it’s hard to imagine they don’t add at least one notable veteran. The obvious question is which position it will be at. Some think it will be a wide receiver. Others are hoping for a center. However, there is a strong possibility GM Ryan Poles might go hunting for another pass rusher to put across from Montez Sweat. There could be some intriguing options available depending on how things unfold.
Matt Bowen of ESPN did in-depth research on all the upcoming free agents. From there, he determined who the best 50 were and the top landing spot that would fit them best. He only picked one for the Bears, but it was an interesting one.
“Jonathan Greenard, EDGE
Best team fit: Chicago Bears
General manager Ryan Poles made the trade last season to acquire defensive end Montez Sweat, which changed the Bears’ defensive setup. Now Poles could add another edge defender in Greenard, who is explosive off the ball and makes plays late in the down with his fantastic effort level. Last season with the Texans, Greenard had 12.5 sacks and a 22% pass rush win rate (sixth in the league). And his instincts show up as a run defender, too.”
Further intrigue added to this is Greenard knows the type of defensive scheme the Bears run. He played in it for two years under Lovie Smith in 2021 and 2022. He had eight sacks in 12 games that first year. Unfortunately, injuries hampered him the next. It is evident he can be a dynamic pass rusher when healthy.
His health. Since coming into the league in 2020, he has missed 19 games with various ailments. Poles is known for being risk-averse when it comes to players with iffy injury backgrounds. At the same time, Greenard could be a missing piece that takes this defense over the top. Cap expert Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus projected he will command around $16 million per year in his next contract. That would put him slightly under Emmanuel Ogbah and Shaquil Barrett, well out of the top 10 range. Pretty affordable for a productive pass rusher entering his prime.
Greenard checks most of the boxes. He’s a high-effort player with a large toolbox of moves. His 34-inch arms give him the length Matt Eberflus typically prefers with his defensive linemen. He constantly looks to attack the football, forcing turnovers. Everything about him says he would fit perfectly in this Chicago Bears defense. As always, it comes down to how hot his market is. Houston may try to keep him. Other teams will be interested as well. Poles rarely gets into bidding wars, so this will be one to watch.
