The Chicago Bears have seen several players leave town this offseason as they seek to fill out their roster before shifting their attention to defending their NFC North title. One of the biggest needs on this team comes along the defensive line. While the Bears have added the likes of Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street to the interior of the line, they need some juice off the edge.
Joey Bosa is a name on the market that Chicago could take a gamble on. And that's clearer after the Lions added a defensive lineman to their roster this week, eliminating an option. On March 17, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that edge DJ Wonnum and Detroit agreed on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million.
While he isn't one of the premier pass rushers in the league, he's a player who could have made Chicago's front better, but now they'll have to go up against him twice in 2026.
Bears Watched DJ Wonnum Join the Lions During 2nd Week of Free Agency
Wonnum isn't a big-name force upfront, but he's a player who would raise the floor of the Bears' defensive front. Montez Sweat led the charge for this team last season, logging 10 sacks. But behind, Austin Booker was the next edge rusher who made waves with four sacks.
The Bears will likely add another pass rusher in next month's NFL draft, but leaning on a rookie is always a risky option. Wonnum spent his six-year career with the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers. Over 86 games (54 starts), he secured 250 total tackles, 32 TFLs, 59 QB hits, 15 pass deflections, and 30 sacks. Wonnum has also finished with at least three sacks in each season and notched at least 26 pressures over the last five years.
While he isn't an impact player week in and week out, Wonnum has shown that he can be a valuable member of the defensive line rotation. Panthers head coach Dane Canales praised Wonnum last November.
"We’re counting on DJ; he’s done an excellent job, gives us a lot of flexibility in terms of our stunts and packages,” Canales said, via Panthers team reporter Kassidy Hill. “He’s a very cerebral guy, and really playing the run tough on the edge. He sets edges for us like we count on, and then that just lets [defensive tackles] Tershawn Wharton, and Derrick Brown, A’Shawn Robinson, and Bobby Brown III, and those guys kind of cut it loose on the inside.”
Certain things don't always pop in the box score, but when watching film, they stand out. Wonnum now signs with Chicago's rival, the Detroit Lions, joining Aidan Hutchinson upfront. The Bears will be tasked with getting them away from Caleb Williams, but they still have to add more difference makers up front themselves.
Haason Reddick, Leonard Floyd, Von Miller, Cameron Jordan, and the aforementioned Bosa are some available veteran edge rushers that Chicago could look to add. Whether or not they decide to go down that route remains to be seen, but the Lions took one potential option off the board by signing Wonnum.