The Chicago Bears are among the teams still potentially in need of an upgrade on the edge with training camp just a couple of weeks out.
There are a few viable options in free agency, two of whom Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated linked to Chicago in a mailbag he authored on June 25.
“They’ll get a look at D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson at running back, and Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo (who plays some inside on passing downs) on the edges when the pads go on, and then maybe consider guys such as Jamaal Williams at running back or Za’Darius Smith or Matthew Judon as edge rushers,” Breer wrote.
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The question to which Breer was responding came in the context of NFL teams poised to go from last to first place in their respective divisions and involved whether Chicago is finished adding to the roster, specifically at running back and defensive end.
Chicago fell well shy of expectations last season during quarterback Caleb Williams‘ rookie year. The team went 5-12, while all three of its NFC North opponents earned playoff berths.
The Detroit Lions, who captured the division for the second consecutive year in 2024, lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Bears during the offseason. Johnson has been aggressive in free agency during his first year as a head coach, working with general manager Ryan Poles to revamp the offensive line in front of Williams as well as add to his corps of pass-catchers.
Chicago’s defense has received less attention, though the team made two significant free-agent additions this offseason in Odeyingbo and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Still, neither is an overwhelming pass rusher at his position, and the Bears could use another rotational pass-rush specialist to add depth in 2025.
Poles was interested in Judon last summer before the New England Patriots dealt him to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round pick in the 2025 draft.
Matthew Judon Could Add Key Backfield Disruption Missing From Bears’ Defense
Entering his age-33 season, Judon has likely played beyond his prime, which consisted of four consecutive Pro-Bowl selections (2019-22) and a top-10 finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting following the 2022 campaign (ninth overall).
Judon produced 43.5 sacks over that four-year span and has tallied 72 total sacks over the course of his nine-year career to go along with 174 quarterback hits and 94 tackles for loss, according to Pro Football Reference.
Judon has only put together 9.5 sacks over the past two years, though he has played in just 21 games over that stretch due to torn biceps he suffered during Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys during the 2023 campaign.
He returned healthy to the Falcons’ lineup in 2024, playing in 17 games and earning 15 starts. However, he only put up nine QB hits, seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks across that stretch.
Should the Bears acquire Judon, he isn’t likely to start or play a massive number of snaps outside of obvious and/or expected pass-rush downs. But a handful of extra backfield disruptions could prove the difference in a playoff campaign for Chicago or another season that ends after Week 18.
