- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,129,325
- Reaction score
- 59
The Chicago Bears are rolling with the same group of edge rushers they finished with last season.
The team didn't add anybody in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft -- a bold move for a unit that struggled to get after opposing quarterbacks last season.
ESPN's Matt Bowen provided a potential solution to help Chicago's pass rush. In the article "2026 NFL offseason: Best NFL team fits for 14 free agents," Bowen identifies landing spots for 14 free agents. He came to each conclusion by assessing the scheme fit, cap space and did so with the premise that the players selected would likely serve as rotational pieces.
With the criteria established, Bowen selected Von Miller as a team fit for the Bears.
"The Bears are awaiting the return of edge rushers Dayo Odeyingbo (Achilles) and Shemar Turner (torn ACL), and the team didn't take an edge rusher in the draft. That could open the door for Miller as a sub-package defender for Chicago.
At this stage of his career, Miller is best used as a true designated pass rusher. He had a team-high nine sacks for the Commanders last season."
Miller, 37, has had a highly-productive 14-year career in the NFL and will likely end up in Canton, Ohio one day, but the fit wouldn't be right in Chicago. The Bears would have to make sure they have the cap space first, as the team has roughly $6.5 million currently.
But even if that was enough to sign Miller to a one-year deal, would the Bears want to want to bring in someone who has primarily played as a 3-4 outside linebacker throughout his career? At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Miller has the strength and size to set the edge, but there are just more suitable options if the Bears wanted to go the veteran route.
Cam Jordan is the obvious answer.
Jordan and Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen were together for 10 years in New Orleans. During rookie minicamp, Allen was asked about his former player.
“My experience with him was outstanding," Allen said. "I mean, Cam's going to be a fricking Hall of Fame player – is a Hall of Fame player. I don't know that there's been a ton of discussion about that. I think we feel pretty good about where we're at and what we have. Yet, you never know what opportunities might present themselves at some point down the road."
[READ: Chicago Bears Rookie Minicamp: Dennis Allen Discusses Dayo Odeyingbo's Fit]
The door wasn't completely closed about adding Jordan, 36, but it doesn't seem likely. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis spoke to local reporters on Monday ahead of the annual Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournament, and shared that a contract has been presented to Jordan's camp and conversations "have been productive." But it's still unclear what role Jordan would have on the team if he does return.
There's another important detail when it comes to potentially adding players on the defensive line. The Bears like in their current players. What the team believes will help the pass rush is improved coaching, and that's where the team will shift its focus this season.
"And one of the things that we identified was we focused so much on installing all the scheme last year, because it was brand new," Allen said. "We do have a high volume of things that we carry in the defense, and we focused so much on that, that we lost sight of some of the fundamentals and techniques that it takes to function to do those things. I don't think we were as fundamentally-sound defensively as we need to be. So how do we have to coach it better? Well, let's minimize how much we're focused on the scheme and let's focus on not what we're going to do, but how we're going to do it. I think that's how we're going to improve."
Continue reading...
The team didn't add anybody in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft -- a bold move for a unit that struggled to get after opposing quarterbacks last season.
ESPN's Matt Bowen provided a potential solution to help Chicago's pass rush. In the article "2026 NFL offseason: Best NFL team fits for 14 free agents," Bowen identifies landing spots for 14 free agents. He came to each conclusion by assessing the scheme fit, cap space and did so with the premise that the players selected would likely serve as rotational pieces.
With the criteria established, Bowen selected Von Miller as a team fit for the Bears.
"The Bears are awaiting the return of edge rushers Dayo Odeyingbo (Achilles) and Shemar Turner (torn ACL), and the team didn't take an edge rusher in the draft. That could open the door for Miller as a sub-package defender for Chicago.
At this stage of his career, Miller is best used as a true designated pass rusher. He had a team-high nine sacks for the Commanders last season."
Miller, 37, has had a highly-productive 14-year career in the NFL and will likely end up in Canton, Ohio one day, but the fit wouldn't be right in Chicago. The Bears would have to make sure they have the cap space first, as the team has roughly $6.5 million currently.
But even if that was enough to sign Miller to a one-year deal, would the Bears want to want to bring in someone who has primarily played as a 3-4 outside linebacker throughout his career? At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Miller has the strength and size to set the edge, but there are just more suitable options if the Bears wanted to go the veteran route.
Cam Jordan is the obvious answer.
Jordan and Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen were together for 10 years in New Orleans. During rookie minicamp, Allen was asked about his former player.
“My experience with him was outstanding," Allen said. "I mean, Cam's going to be a fricking Hall of Fame player – is a Hall of Fame player. I don't know that there's been a ton of discussion about that. I think we feel pretty good about where we're at and what we have. Yet, you never know what opportunities might present themselves at some point down the road."
[READ: Chicago Bears Rookie Minicamp: Dennis Allen Discusses Dayo Odeyingbo's Fit]
The door wasn't completely closed about adding Jordan, 36, but it doesn't seem likely. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis spoke to local reporters on Monday ahead of the annual Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournament, and shared that a contract has been presented to Jordan's camp and conversations "have been productive." But it's still unclear what role Jordan would have on the team if he does return.
There's another important detail when it comes to potentially adding players on the defensive line. The Bears like in their current players. What the team believes will help the pass rush is improved coaching, and that's where the team will shift its focus this season.
"And one of the things that we identified was we focused so much on installing all the scheme last year, because it was brand new," Allen said. "We do have a high volume of things that we carry in the defense, and we focused so much on that, that we lost sight of some of the fundamentals and techniques that it takes to function to do those things. I don't think we were as fundamentally-sound defensively as we need to be. So how do we have to coach it better? Well, let's minimize how much we're focused on the scheme and let's focus on not what we're going to do, but how we're going to do it. I think that's how we're going to improve."
Continue reading...
