If you were reading between the lines when Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles — unprompted — talked about the team’s depth at defensive end before training camp started last weekend, you could have inferred he was sending a message to potential job seekers that the Bears won’t be big spenders.
“The topic of the defensive end position has popped up multiple times,” Poles said. “It’s our job to look at every option that’s out there to improve our football team. We feel really comfortable with the guys we have on our roster now, and I’m excited to see Travis (Smith, defensive line coach) and Eric (Washington, defensive coordinator) really put their hands on those guys and develop them as we go. But we will always have our eyes on the list of players that we could potentially bring in.”
One translation could be: “We like our guys enough that we’re not interested in paying what you’re seeking.”
The Bears have been linked since early spring to free agent Yannick Ngakoue, who had four sacks in 13 games for them last season before finishing the year on injured reserve with a fractured ankle. But it’s worth wondering if re-signing Ngakoue would resolve the Bears’ depth situation.
If Ngakoue, 29, is in a similar form to last season, when pro scouts said he wasn’t playing with the same power and ability to shed blocks as he had earlier in his career, wouldn’t the defense have the same issue?
The Miami Dolphins put Emmanuel Ogbah and Ngakoue through a tryout earlier this week before signing Ogbah to a one-year deal that, with incentives, reportedly can reach $5 million. The Bears, if they desire the experience Ngakoue would provide, could do something similar with a little more than $12 million in available salary-cap space. Money isn’t an issue here.
It’s entirely possible Poles addressed the position before being asked because he knew it would be a hot topic and you can take him at his word. He has a track record for being a straight shooter, but GMs speaking publicly before the start of training camp are communicating to everyone — media, fans, agents, free agents, you name it.
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It’s important for the Bears to evaluate what they have behind starters Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker when they practice in full pads for the first time Friday and Saturday at Halas Hall.
It was a week into camp last summer when they signed Ngakoue to a one-year, $10.5 million contract, and you would think they want to spend legitimate time analyzing how things are shaking out before considering an addition. Coaches and the front office should know pretty quickly.
“The first day (in pads) won’t make or break that,” Washington said. “It’s been a long time since this group has played tackle football. But after the first two or three practices, I’ll have a pretty good sense of where the group is. And also we can identify where we need to grow and who needs what specific work and what we need to focus and hone on, in terms of trying to develop the depth.
“So I’m not making any absolute statements after the first two or three days, but what we want to do is just make sure we know what we need to do as a staff to develop the depth that we believe we have. If they’re here, there’s a reason why they’re here.”
It’s fair to question what the Bears have as a third or fourth option coming off the edge. After Sweat there simply isn’t a consistent and proven finisher for a defense that ranked 31st with 30 sacks and 26th with an 18.8% pressure percentage in 2023. If something happens to Sweat, the Bears are really in a jam. But guess what? That’s true for nearly every team in the league if it loses its top pass rusher.
An injury in training camp or preseason could force Poles and his staff to reevaluate outside options, but right now it’s worth waiting to see what Jacob Martin, a free-agent signing in March, and fifth-round pick Austin Booker can do.
Martin, 28, has familiarity with the scheme, having played for Lovie Smith in Houston. In 2021 he had four sacks and six quarterback hits in 698 snaps for the Texans.
Martin showed out in practice Tuesday — before the players had a day off Wednesday — getting what likely would have been a sack in 11-on-11 drills and forcing a scramble by Caleb Williams in the two-minute drill. Of course, it’s all projection and guesswork for line play with no pads.
“Jacob, great speed and quickness,” said Washington, who noted the extra work Martin is putting in before practice. “Very athletic. He’s an excellent space player. But he’s really sturdy at the point of attack. Those types of things you really need to have. I mean, we can anticipate his role being a three-down defender.”
Booker rotated through with the first team a little Tuesday as well, and his speed and ability to turn the corner are evident. He lacks stoutness at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, but you can find a role in this scheme for a twitched-up edge rusher with a quick first step, especially on passing downs.
“We’re not in pads yet, but I saw a lot of things that I’m really excited about,” Washington said of Booker. “His hand usage. His ability to counter. And with a pass rusher, especially a young player, it’s just a mindset. He’s got one objective in mind and that’s to put himself in position to hit the quarterback.”
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If the Bears can get significant improvement from 2023 second-round pick Gervon Dexter — who has reshaped his body — that could add a lot to the pass rush if they have a more consistent interior push from the three-technique. No one says a beefed-up pass rush has to come from the edge.
Dexter was a two-gap player at Florida, and he had to work through the adjustment to playing a single gap in his rookie season. He came on in the second half with nine of his 12 QB hits in the final eight games. He seems more comfortable on and off the field this summer.
“Words can’t describe it, man,” Dexter said. “My body type, my style of play was a penetrator, disruptor, and I was in a defense (in college) that I couldn’t do that. So I kind of had chains on. Now they’re off.”
Coming off consecutive last-place finishes, the Bears weren’t going to open training camp without a few questions on the roster. Even the best teams are seeking answers at certain positions this time of year
Defensive end is a legitimate one for the Bears, and solutions could already be in the building.