Chicago Bears: 5 Edge Rushers Who Are (Still) Available
By Erik Lambert
The Chicago Bears are certainly embracing the youth movement at their edge rush position. One merely has to look at the experience makeup for an idea.
As of now four of the seven players on the depth chart going into training camp have one year or less of NFL experience. Not only that but those four are made up of a 6th round pick and three current or former undrafted free agents. Not exactly a group picked from the premier pile of talent. Either they strongly believe they have something in this young cast or it’s possible they’re planning another move.
This time of year the edge rusher position is picked clean of the best talent. Teams can only hope to scoop up an older veteran or injury-prone player and hope they can offer something. Perhaps the Bears are hoping the waiver wire cuts to come in August may yield some help but that feels like a stretch. So here are the five best names available for them to secure.
Kids take note: ALWAYS keep that outside shoulder free. That’s how the pros do it. That’s how Elvis Dumervil does it. That’s how you get sacks. Send your dopey coach my way if he tells you differently. #49ers pic.twitter.com/t9UCfKfiNh
— Bret Rumbeck (@brumbeck) December 6, 2017
Lamarr Houston
This is an easy one that for whatever reason the Bears refuse to act on. Houston had four sacks in five games upon returning to the team late in 2017. He seems to like the Vic Fangio system a lot and shouldn’t command a ton of money on a one-year deal. It’s hard to determine whether he’s resisting a return in hopes of a long-term deal elsewhere or if the Bears simply don’t want him back. Either way, he remains available and would be a major help to their depth.
Connor Barwin
His best days are behind him it seems. Barwin was a solid outside linebacker for a number of years in Houston and Philadelphia. He doesn’t display that dominant form anymore as he continues into his 30s. That said he’s shown he can be good for five sacks a season, which was his totals in 2016 and 2017. That may not be overly flashy but it would make for solid production from a rotational pass rusher.
Devin Taylor
Most people have forgotten about Taylor. That’s no surprise considering he played just two games for the Giants last season. The former Lions defensive end has flashed some pass rush prowess before though. Between 2015 and 2016 he had 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Not wow numbers but not bad either. At 6’7″ he offers the kind of length Fangio loves in his pass rushers and has experience playing a reserve role. It would be a cheap add.
Elvis Dumervil
Word is that Dumervil is in the best shape of his career. That may be true, but he’s also 34-years old. Not a lot of pass rushers excel at that age. There are some exceptions though. Despite being relegated to a reserve role in 2017, he still managed to college 6.5 sacks with the San Francisco 49ers. He’s a tough, experienced and high-motor player who knows how to get to the quarterback. A one-year flier to see if he’s got any juice left can’t hurt.
Next: Chicago Bears: Biggest Reason They Will/Won’t Win NFC North
Junior Galette
Injuries and off-the-field issues derailed what looked like the career of an emerging star in Galette. He had 22.5 sacks between 2013 and 2014 for the New Orleans Saints. Then he suffered back-to-back Achilles injuries to miss all of the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Only last year did he finally get back, notching three sacks for the Redskins. At 30-years old his window is closing and he comes with a lot of baggage. Still, beggars can’t be choosers and it’s possible he has one good year left in him.