Chicago Bears: How free agency affects the NFL Draft

3. Adding an edge rusher is a necessity

Considering the Bears defense has talent at nearly every position, all that needs to be done is adding depth at certain positions. At outside linebacker, Leonard Floyd and Khalil Mack get all the attention. In 2018, Aaron Lynch too served as a valuable situational player. However, with Lynch currently a free agent and with the Bears missing out on Justin Houston, the team needs to add an outside linebacker for depth purposes.

Unless the Bears want to bring in someone like Shane Ray or Nick Perry, the only other option left to address outside linebacker depth is the NFL Draft. Luckily for the Bears, this years edge rusher class is amongst the deepest in recent memory which means there’s potential for a hidden gem to be found.

Since a majority of the Bears picks will be on day three, there are a few names that are realistic targets for the Bears. Names that could be available in the fourth or fifth-round include Jalen Jelks (Oregon), Zach Allen (Boston College), Jaylon Ferguson (LSU), Oshane Ximines (Old Dominion), and Maxx Crosby (Eastern Michigan).

Ryan Pace’s draft history on day three shows that he has the potential to find a hidden gem. In 2017, he found both Tarik Cohen and Eddie Jackson in the fourth round. In 2018, he drafted Bilal Nichols in the fifth-round. Now, in 2019, with the Bears looking to add an edge rusher, Pace has a chance to add an underrated player who could have a major impact.