2. DeMarcus Walker, DE
The Bears decided to release DeMarcus Walker before free agency started to save some money against the cap. Despite getting cut in February, he's still on the open market.
Walker came into the league as a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played there for four seasons before landing with the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. In 2023, Walker signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Bears.
The Florida State product provided them with a solid run defender who could also generate some type of pressure in the backfield. Over 34 games (29 starts) with the Bears, he compiled 77 total tackles, 16 TFLs, 32 QB hits, and seven sacks. In 2024, he had a 64.7 overall grade, a 61.3 pass-rush grade, and a 62.3 run-defense grade per PFF.
The 30-year-old was a solid depth option upfront for the Bears and they should look to bring him back to town. Granted it would have to be a low-cost deal since they released him to free up money but that doesn't mean anything is written off. Over the past two seasons, he's led the team in snaps at DE, with 700-plus during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
The Bears have Dennis Allen as their new defensive coordinator but Walker is the type of player who could fit right in and give them some stability, as he is familiar with the team. We'll see if these two sides can get together to hammer out a deal for 2025.