The Chicago Bears have addressed essentially every team deficiency from 2024 to one degree or another, though one spot that could still get a bit more love ahead of the upcoming season is that of edge rusher.
Chicago traded with the Washington Commanders for Montez Sweat a couple years back and added Dayo Odeyingbo, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, in free agency this offseason. Second-round pick Shemar Turner could definitely see some work in an edge-rushing role during his rookie campaign, and Austin Booker should also be an option after the Bears selected him in the 2024 draft as a high-upside project.
Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Albert Cesare-Imagn Images
The Bears have more than $10.5 million in remaining salary cap space and a multitude of ways to increase that figure over the coming weeks and months if they decide to open up room for a big move on the outside of the defense.
To that end, Terrence Jordan of FanSided suggested Chicago make a move to acquire defensive end Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL's reigning sack leader, Hendrickson is owed $21 million in his age-31 campaign and has a market value of approximately $63 million total over a new two-year deal.
"Hendrickson is a stud that would be the best Bears pass rusher since Khalil Mack," Jordan wrote on Thursday, May 1. "It won't be cheap to get him, which is likely why he wasn't dealt when he first was given permission to seek a trade. But as long as the price isn't too exorbitant, [Bears GM] Poles should figure out a way to get it done."
The Bengals are reportedly considering the release of Germaine Pratt and Cordell Volson, which would free upwards of $9 million in cap space and could allow Cincinnati to bring Hendrickson back into the fold on a long-term deal, which is the only contract paradigm likely to keep the star pass rusher in a Bengals uniform beyond 2025. A
