Chicago Bears Free Agent Defensive Line Primer
After watching most of the top free agent defensive linemen, I had to write about them. So, here is a very unorganized synopsis of the free agent class. I run through each’s strengths and concerns. Along with, which ones the Bears should ultimately target or avoid.
Milton Williams, IDL, Philadelphia Eagles, 25 years old
PFF Contract Projection: 3 years, $21m APY, $40m guaranteed
Strengths
Dominant pass rushing skills. Showed a consistent ability to beat blocks and get to the passer over the course of the entire 2024 season.
Top notch athleticism at the position. Came into the NFL as a rare athlete and uses that athleticism to be a disruptor.
Plays with low pad level to hold his own in the run game. Not a liability there.
Prototype 3 technique for an even front defense. Will fit right into to Dennis Allen’s defense.
Was more of a rotational piece throughout his career in Philly. You wonder if there is more untapped potential in a more prominent role given his age and trajectory.
Best combination of elite production and youth that this FA class has to offers.
Concerns
One year breakout of elite pass rush production. The contract year outlier theory could definitely be applied depending how you see it.
The Bears would be buying high for one of the youngest players available. In other words, he will be expensive! Not only on a yearly basis, but will require some financial commitment for a couple of seasons. He is not for the roster builders who are looking to live on the margins.
Was in an ideal situation in Philly with a stacked defensive line playing next to Jalen Carter. Some have to wonder if he can be the same player surrounded by lesser talent.
He may not be a liability in the run game but wouldn’t call him an asset either. Williams isn’t going to clog double teams or 2 gap at a high level. He struggles to get off blocks in that regard.
Verdict
There are always risks that come with the top free agents, and Williams is certainly no exception. I could see why some would want to steer clear from this type of profile. That said, there just aren’t many defensive linemen who have posted the kind of season that he had and become available.
He demonstrated an elite ability on long and late downs and that is so damn valuable. It’s also exactly what the Bears need, which is ultimately why I would pursue him. In an offseason that is so scarce of avenues to an ace pass rusher, Williams might be one of the only ones. For that reason, he is worth the gamble.
Khalil Mack, ED, Los Angeles Chargers, 34 years old
PFF Contract Projection: 2 years $22.5m APY, $40m guaranteed
Strengths
Best of the best among edge rushers in run defense. Sets as good an edge as he ever has. Is able to lockout blockers and find the ball carrier at an extremely high level.
Can still get after the passer at 34 years old. He might not be the force he once was but still above average. The athleticism is still there.
Brings a veteran presence to a young Bears team that needs leadership. Has experience working with Dennis Allen as well. Should fit right in and aid the culture.
This should go without saying, but also is one of the most beloved Bears in recent memory. The vibes are always immaculate with these kinds of reunions.
Will most likely not require a long term contract. Should not effect future finances drastically.
Concerns
Doesn’t provide the gravitational pass rush ability that the Bears need at this stage of his career. Better suited as a complimentary piece.
Pass rush skillset is heavily based on athleticism. Mack has never had this extremely deep arsenal of pass rush moves. He wins with a couple go to moves because he was such a special athlete. He isn’t quite the same athlete as he once was, so his game hasn’t aged as well.
Should be viewed as a short term solution only given his age. Will need to be supplemented with a highly invested draft pick.
Older and expensive could be a risky combo.
Verdict
Acquiring Khalil Mack isn’t as clean as it was when the Bears traded for him back in 2018, but he is still worth targeting. He is a great fit for Dennis Allen’s defense given what he provides on early downs and has enough juice left as a pass rusher to give the Bears above average production.
Mack can be apart of the solution for the next year or so. However, he should not stop the Bears from prioritizing an edge defender early in the draft. Even with adding the Bears legend, they would still be missing that tier 1 pass rusher.
Dayo Odeyingbo, ED, Indianapolis Colts, 25 years old
PFF Contract Projection: 4 years $16.5m APY, $39.5m guaranteed
Strengths
Huge 6’ 5” 280 pound frame that has historically fit what Dennis Allen has looked for in his edges.
35 inch arms and uses them. Plays with great extension in the run game to set an edge and funnel plays inside. Flashes that length as a pass rusher with his bull rush.
Can corner decently well for a big man. If he gets a step on a tackle, he is hard to ride out past the pocket.
One of the younger defensive lineman with starting experience that is hitting the market.
Concerns
Never been a value adding pass rusher at any point of his career. The tape and advanced numbers don’t inspire much hope of a sudden turnaround in that regard. A consistent 4 year average to underwhelming sample.
For being long and heavy handed, he is not an elite run defender. More solid if anything. You feel like he should be better given the tools he is working with.
The age tax that comes with him financially outweighs the production. If his projected cost is accurate, a team would be paying a lot of money just because he is young. We seen a lot of teams get burned that way before.
Opportunity cost. Investing in a young player like him probably requires some long-term commitment. Therefore, will keep you from attacking the position with premium draft capital. A very risky scenario that can lead to saddling yourself with a middling player at a position where ceiling is everything.
Verdict
I will be sweet and short, Odeyingbo is a poster child buyer beware candidate in this FA class. Betting on a player to become a much better NFL player than they were in college is risky a gamble. Hoping a player becomes a much better version of themselves in year 5 of an NFL career is a downright losing proposition.
At some point, we need to just accept some players are who they are. Odeyingbo is not a bad player by any means. However, he is not the needle moving pass rusher the Bears desperately need and ultimately not worth that projected price tag. I am steering clear if I am Chicago.
Chase Young, ED, New Orleans Saints, 25 years old
PFF Contract Projection: 2 years $17.5m APY, $20m guaranteed
Strengths
As Dennis Allen as it gets from a size and skill set standpoint. Don’t believe me? Young literally worked with the DA this past season. The prior experience is always a plus.
Didn’t have the best season last year, but has shown he can be an above average pass rusher in stretches of his career. Can’t argue the talent is there.
Still very young at only 25 years old.
Seems like he won’t require a long term deal. Every projection available is aimed towards a shorter time commitment. Won’t warrant a lot of guaranteed money and will still be able to attack the position in the draft.
Weaknesses
A middle tier edge that doesn’t really solve any of the Bears issues. Is he better than anything the Bears have had opposite of Montez Sweat? Maybe? The answer is not a definitive yes and that is a problem.
The pass rush film was not great last year despite solid accumulative pressure numbers. Young has never really developed any further as a player. He tries to out athlete his way to the QB most of the time. I don’t know if it was the injuries or something else, but he doesn’t have the juice to live that way in the NFL. The technical side of his game is lacking.
Run defense is consistent.
Every team he has been on seems reluctant to keep him around. Why is that? Seems like there are some things that teams know that we don’t.
Verdict
It’s hard to ignore some of the appealing aspects that come with Chase Young. He has shown he can be a good pass rusher in any given season, he fits and has worked in DA’s defense and is still very young. For all of these reasons, I would not be upset if the Bears decided to sign him on a short term deal.
That said, I still feel as if he is more of a place holder. I might be beating a dead horse, but the Bears need ceiling raisers if they want to transform their defensive line. They have enough solid players. Young is more or less another solid player. His addition would still leave me wanting more.