The Chicago Bears have a pass rush problem. Montez Sweat is a star. Nobody disputes this. After that, it becomes dicey. Gervon Dexter has tons of upside but hasn’t been known for pass rush prowess in the past. There is still lots of proving for him to do. DeMarcus Walker is a good hybrid player but not a natural edge rusher. Rookie Austin Booker keeps flashing in training camp. Maybe he can step up. Still, it is unlikely he will give the defense a reliable QB hunter opposite Sweat this year.
That is why many hold out hope that GM Ryan Poles will bring back Yannick Ngakoue. While the veteran didn’t have the best season in 2023, he was improving down the stretch before breaking his ankle. He’s by far the most proven pass rusher left on the market. It just makes sense. However, Seth Walder of ESPN has a different idea in mind. He believes a trade is the way for Chicago and even presented one that wouldn’t be difficult to pull off, provided the teams involved see it the same way.
Saints, Bears and Giants pull off three-way swap
Saints receive: OT Larry Borom
Bears receive: Edge Azeez Ojulari
Giants receive: Saints’ 2025 fifth-round pick…The Bears, who are rightfully trying to win right away behind rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, would be converting Borom into another player who can help their starting lineup rather than taking on draft capital.
That player would be Ojulari, who was pushed into the role of third pass-rusher on the Giants after they traded for Brian Burns earlier this offseason. Ojulari has shown flashes as a pro, but his career has been marred by injury, as he has played 18 regular-season games over the past two seasons. He recorded eight sacks in his rookie campaign but only 7.5 combined over the past two seasons. Ojulari’s 14% pass rush win rate at edge is a little below the 16% average at the position, though he flashed a 21% PRWR at edge in an abbreviated 2022 campaign.
It isn’t a secret that Larry Borom is in a difficult spot on the roster. That became true after the Bears drafted Kiran Amegadjie in the 3rd round last April. They only carried one backup tackle last season. So unless they plan to have two this time, the odds of Borom staying on the roster have grown longer. The smart thing to do would be trade him. He’s a quality backup tackle with extensive starting experience. There is guaranteed to be teams interested in his services. New Orleans is the most obvious, with its injury issues at the position.
The Ojulari part is interesting. Remember that the Chicago Bears don’t typically take risks on players with injury histories. He’s missed 16 games over the past two years with calf, ankle, and hamstring issues. He’s also listed at 240 lbs, which is light for a defensive end in Matt Eberflus’ system. That said, the 24-year-old can get to the quarterback. In his last 16 games, he has seven sacks and 14 quarterback hits. It would be a gamble, but one that wouldn’t cost the Bears much to take. At worst, they lose a player who probably wasn’t making the team anyway.
