The Chicago Bears have been showing some signs of life over the last few weeks. A big reason for that has been the performance of their team’s defense, which has turned into one of the best units in the league since the trade deadline.
The Bears made a splash at the deadline, acquiring Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders in exchange for a second-round pick. Sweat has made his presence felt immediately, helping turn around what was an anemic pass rush prior to his arrival.
Sweat is a foundational building block for the team, signing a long-term extension after being acquired. Along with linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and safety Jaquan Brisker, Chicago has a strong group to build their defense around.
NFL News & Rumors: Yannick Ngakoue, Montez Sweat, Chicago Bears Updates
However, one player is missing from that group; defensive end, Yannick Ngakoue. The pass-rushing specialist signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Bears this offseason as a free agent. But, in the opinion of NFL analyst Peter King, Ngakoue will be elsewhere in 2024.
“In the last four calendar years, since Dec. 18, 2019, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue has played for six teams. The teams, and number of games for each over the past 48 months: Jacksonville 2, Minnesota 6, Baltimore 11, Las Vegas 18, Indianapolis 15, Chicago 13,” King wrote in his weekly column, “Football Morning in America” for NBC Sports.
“There’s a good chance that Ngakoue, 28, who went on IR in Chicago last week with a broken ankle, will play elsewhere in 2024. That would be his seventh team in five calendar years. He would be 29 years old,” King added.
Like the rest of his teammates, Ngakoue saw his production improve once Sweat was added to the mix. On the season, he had 4.0 sacks, 22 tackles, six tackles for loss, 34 pressures, 26 hurries and 11 run stops, per Courtney Cronin of ESPN.
NFL News & Rumors: Yannick Ngakoue, Montez Sweat, Chicago Bears Updates
Their first game without Ngakoue was Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns. Sweat was dominant with 2.5 sacks, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits as the loss of Ngakoue didn’t slow him down. But, the Bears saw another late-game lead disappear, resulting in a 20-17 loss.
Pass rushing was a need for the Bears even with Ngakoue in the mix alongside Sweat. If he is not retained, as King predicts, the need for another edge rusher becomes even more paramount in Chicago.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
