Rumors: NFL Execs link Bears to Pro-Bowl pass rusher |
For most of the NFL offseason, much of the chatter surrounding the Chicago Bears was about how they would improve their team. Then came free agency, where the fans witnessed an aggressive side from Ryan Poles that has been lacking in the organization for the past few years. That alone has helped this team acquire some of the better defensive talent at the LB position while adding a big-play Receiver via the trade market.
Even with the Bears' moves, there is still a gaping hole on this team, which remains on the defensive side of the ball. Despite the overall improvements on defense, the Bears still desperately need a pass rusher, especially when they ranked dead last in that category a season ago. Don't get me wrong, adding Gervon Dexter will help the pass rush, but it will be up to other guys like Trevis Gipson to step up this season if the Bears want a shot at the postseason. Even if Gipson steps up, the Bears will need more help getting to the QB, and several names can help this team. All offseason long, you have heard the name Yannick Ngakoue linked to the Bears and the possible trade options of Chase Young and Danielle Hunter. While those trade options seem a bit far-fetched, knowing what Washington and Minnesota will demand, another trade option is starting to pop up as the Bears have been linked to Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Chandler Jones as a possible addition. Despite being 33 years of age and older than most of the names linked to Chicago, Jones is still a four-time pro bowler coming off a great season and has a lot of football left in him. Due to the cost of the Raiders' 14.2 million against the cap in 2023, not only is Jones viewed as a legitimate trade option for Vegas, but he is a player that could be on the move before the start of training camp next month. With the Raiders drafting Texas Tech Rookie Tyree Wilson, trading away Jones will not only open up snaps for Wilson but also save the Raiders nearly 11 million dollars, which will carry over into the NFL season. The best part about trading for Jones is the financial side, as it will only cost a team 1.16 million dollars to sign him this season. When you look at his overall production from last year and across his career, that is a bargain, and any team would be lucky to have him. Let's say the Bears are interested in making a deal for Jones and ultimately add him to their roster. The big question would be what to do with him in 2024, as he would have a 16 million-dollar option attached to him beyond this season. When you look at a team like Chicago and how much money they still have, not only can they afford Jones beyond this season, but it is a manageable deal that would still allow them to add pieces elsewhere. When you look at the numbers from Jones last season, his 4.5 sacks don't stand out, but in the final five games, he started to look like the player everyone knows he is. During those last five games, Jones racked up four of his 4.5 sacks and had 12 of his 27 QB pressures overall. That makes you wonder if he had an injury early on in the season that prevented him from being the playmaker he knew he could be. If Jones was hurt and is healthy again, this guy will give you 10 plus sacks when on the field, as he can be an instant playmaker. The Raiders know that, and for them to trade him away, it will have to be a deal they like. However, don't expect them to overvalue his worth, as they want to get Wilson on the field sooner rather than later. That can only happen once they move on from Jones, and trading him away seems like a win-win scenario.
