What the Chicago Bears’ first 5 free agent signings bring to the table
By Ryan Heckman
What Larry Ogunjobi brings to the Chicago Bears
For Bears fans who are sad about losing defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, mostly due to the fact that his intensity and personality had become the heartbeat of this defense, have no fear.
The Bears’ first free agent signing this past week was Larry Ogunjobi, who will come to the Bears as this exact type of player. Everything that Hicks offered in terms of his intensity, nastiness and personality — that’s what Ogunjobi brings to the Bears, except he’s a much younger player on the ascent.
Ogunjobi comes in to play the very important position of 3-technique in Eberflus’ 4-3 defense. This is a big man who knows how to rush the passer, coming up with 7.0 sacks in 2021. Over the course of last season, Ogunjobi tallied a ridiculous 39 quarterback pressures, which was tied for the sixth-most in football last year.
The Bears are getting a lineman who knows how to get after the quarterback, but he’s also great against the run. Make no mistake, he’s fantastic in both realms.
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Ogunjobi is also a guy in the midst of his prime years at 27 years old, and could become a big part of this defense for years to come. He might not have been the sexiest signing, but will prove to be a highly important one very soon.