2 Edge Rushers the Chicago Bears Must Consider Adding Following the NFL Draft

With three draft picks invested in defense, the Chicago Bears did well to fill holes left by outgoing defensive stars while also reinforcing some areas of strength.

The selection of safety Dillon Theineman and cornerback Malik Muhammad helped address the Bears' secondary needs. While the additions of linebacker Keyshaun Elliot and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg are an attempt to improve the front seven.

But even with those additions, the team still has the opportunity to make a massive swing to give their already-established defenders some help before the summer rolls around.

According to PFSN's Jacob Infante, the Bears restructured the contracts of tight end Cole Kmet and right guard Jonah Jackson, allowing the team to direct over $10 million to alleviate their cap space situation. While the money could be invested in the Bears' draft class, Infante later clarified that cuts made during the offseason and the preseason will free up the money needed to bring in the rookies.

With that and the Bears' draft needs addressed, the attention now turns to the free agents that could be brought in using the freed-up funds. One could argue that finding a replacement for D.J. Moore should be at the top of mind, but the Bears did select wide receiver Zavion Thomas in the fourth round of this year's draft.

What could be interesting is whether the Bears use the money to beef up their partially revamped defense, one that could also receive a significant boost by simply avoiding the injury bug.

In his tweet, Infante cited a handful of notable defensive players who are still on the market, including former Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa and ex-Philadelphia Eagle Haason Reddick.

Both defenders have had their moments in the past, and the experience provided could be a boon for the Bears

While Bosa has dealt with injuries throughout his career, he is capable of making an impact on the defensive line. Four of his nine seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers saw him record at least 10.0 sacks, while two of them saw him record 60+ tackles. It is worth noting that his playing time has increased considerably since the 2022 and 2023 seasons, a span in which the Ohio State product played just 14 total games.

Bosa was also part of a Chargers team that finished 12-4 during the 2018 regular season and that made it to the AFC Divisional Round before losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots.

That said, the Bears are set to face significant competition for the defensive end. Nick Breer of Sports Illustrated claimed recently that the San Francisco 49ers could find themselves contending for Joey's signature as a means to pair him up with his brother Nick on the 49ers' defensive line. At the same time, the Seattle Seahawks have the space to bring him into their defense as they look to defend their first Super Bowl title since 2014. One can't rule Detroit out either; despite securing defensive line help in the draft, the Lions were cited by Sports Illustrated as a potential landing spot for Bosa.

While Reddick has not been able to find success in the seasons following his time in Philadelphia, his presence on that 2022 Eagles team does provide Chicago with a potential blueprint for what a healthy and starting Reddick can provide for their defense.

During that 2022 season, he recorded 49 total tackles, 11 of which were for lost yardage, and a career-high 16.0 sacks. During the Eagles' three postseason games, he recorded nine total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a strip sack on 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy during the NFC Championship Game.

While the Bears are the kind of team that could use an experienced defender like Reddick, the Green Bay Packers were cited by Matt Okada of NFL.com as the best fit for the former Eagle. Okada considered the fact that Jonathan Gannon, who was Reddick's defensive coordinator in Philadelphia, is joining Green Bay's coaching staff in the same role.

How do the Bears proceed?

While both Bosa and Reddick's previous contracts were above the $10 million per year mark, they weren't exactly that much higher. Bosa's deal in Buffalo came in at around $13 million, while Reddick's last deal in Tampa Bay brought him just over $14 million for the one season he played with the Buccaneers.

While bringing both players in would require additional restructuring and preseason cuts, an offer in the $6-8 million per year range shouldn't exactly be seen as ludicrous for either of these veterans. It might take closer to $9 million to get them locked down and fend off the likes of the Packers and the Seahawks, but a one year deal with a lower AAV could be seen as a likely prospect.

Either way, acquiring Bosa and/or Reddick would serve as a massive boost for a Bears defense that went through a rollercoaster of a 2025 season. The playoffs proved that, when at their best, the Bears' defensive unit can make a difference and that a few reinforcements could make this team a top-ten unit in that department.

And with other NFC contenders making their moves, it's only fair that the Bears follow suit.