4 Bears that Fans Will Be Happy to See Leave in Free Agency
By Cem Yolbulan
3. DE Darrell Taylor
Before the start of the season, the Bears traded for talented defensive end Darrell Taylor in exchange for a sixth-round pick. The pass rush was considered one of the most obvious weaknesses for the Bears, and Taylor, who had 21.5 sacks for the Seahawks in three seasons, was seen as a solid addition.
His Bears debut only made that sentiment stronger as Taylor had two sacks, two tackles for loss, and two QB hits in Week 1 against the Titans. That was, unfortunately, the high watermark for Taylor on the season. He didn't have another sack until Week 17 and had a five-game stretch from Week 9 against the Cardinals to Week 14 against San Francisco where he received a PFF grade 40.2 or worse in each appearance.
Chicago ranked middle-of-the-pack in most defensive metrics, including the pass rush. Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker had the lion's share of the workload on the EDGE and had a solid performance throughout the season. Darrell Taylor and Austin Booker, who played significant snaps at defensive end, were far less impressive. In fact, Taylor's 59.4 defensive grade ranks as the 76th-best in his position among 119 qualified defenders.
Taylor has certainly failed to live up to the expectations, both as a second-round pick and a trade acquisition. However, every team in the NFL needs competent pass rushers, so he will have a market. For a team-friendly, one-year deal, Taylor may not be the worst option for the Bears but if there are multiple suitors for his services, it may be wise to let him sign elsewhere.