Chicago Bears: 5 veteran free agents to sign after 2023 NFL Draft
By Ryan Heckman
Free agents for the Chicago Bears to sign after 2023 NFL Draft: Yannick Ngakoue, DE
Above anyone else, the Bears should pursue veteran pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue. You are looking at a guy who has yet to finish a professional season with less than 8.0 sacks. He has been as consistent as you would want out of a pass rusher.
The 28-year-old has totaled double-digit sacks twice in his career, while amassing at least 15 quarterback hits in five seasons.
Since pressures have been a tracked stat back in 2018 by Pro Football Reference, Ngakoue has also tallied a minimum of 26 pressures in every season, twice going over 30.
If the Bears want to add a sure fire starter at this position, he is the guy who makes the most sense. There are others out there, but a couple of older free agents who might want to be on a winning team at this point in their career, and don’t necessarily fit the Bears’ timeline.
Ngakoue would be well-worth a deal along the lines of two or three years with some extra incentives. Poles should be pursuing him as we speak, if he wants to shore up the team’s biggest need following the draft.
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