The Chicago Bears are lacking at least one player who can rotate in as a pass rusher as the summer approaches, and their choices are somewhat limited.
Greg Gabriel of SB Nation’s Windy City Gridiron looked through the remaining available players in the free-agent market on Saturday, May 11, and found a couple of potential options: Carl Lawson, who used to play for the New York Jets, and Emmanuel Ogbah, who previously played for the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns.
Gabriel noted that Ogbah is likely the better fit based on the type of length the Bears typically seek in a defensive end, though there is also a case to be made for Lawson.
“Carl Lawson is an intriguing option, especially because he is younger (29) and has achieved 27 career sacks. The downside is that he does not meet the size and length requirements that the Bears are looking for in a defensive end,” Gabriel wrote. “The Bears specifically want their defensive linemen to have length, and Lawson lacks that attribute. Another concern is that Lawson is more of a specialized pass rusher than an all-around defensive end. Considering that is what Austin Booker is currently, does Lawson match what the Bears need?”
Carl Lawson Isn’t the Best Choice for Bears, Could Be Suitable for a Short Contract
GettyFormer New York Jets pass rusher Carl Lawson.
Lawson — who stands at 6 feet, 2 inches and weighs 265 pounds — spent the first four years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals as a fourth-round pick from Auburn. He agreed to a three-year contract worth $45 million to join the Jets in March 2021 after getting 20 sacks in 51 games while in Cincinnati.
He tore his Achilles tendon in August of that year and missed the entire season. Lawson then achieved 7 sacks for the Jets in 2022, but he only played in six games last season and did not record any sacks.
Due to Lawson’s injury issues, his limited skill set, and his less-than-ideal length, he is not an outstanding candidate to join a Bears defense that was among the best in the NFL closing stretch of last season.
That being said, Chicago has a more traditional defensive end in DeMarcus Walker who can start alongside Pro Bowler Montez Sweat. Booker is a rookie project, and the Bears could likely acquire Lawson on a short-term, team-friendly contract to add some pass-rushing depth as a temporary solution until a better option emerges in free agency next year.
Bears’ Better Option Might Be Reuniting With DE Yannick Ngakoue in 2024
GettyDefensive end Yannick Ngakoue, formerly of the Chicago Bears.
The most logical move for the Bears might be to simply bring back Yannick Ngakoue, who the team signed late last offseason to fill the void in edge rushing in 2023.
Ngakoue had his least productive season, shortened by injury to four games, achieving 6 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Ngakoue, a Pro Bowler in 2017, had never finished any of his seven previous NFL seasons with fewer than 8 sacks, according to Pro Football Reference.
Chicago signed Ngakoue to a $10.5 million contract last time, although the 29-year-old defensive end will likely come at a lower cost in 2024. He is also familiar with the Bears’ system, having played in it last year and being a part of Matt Eberflus‘ defense with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, when Ngakoue recorded 16 quarterback hits and 9.5 sacks.
