Heading into the season, there were questions surrounding the Chicago Bears' pass rush. Although they signed Dayo Odeyingbo, the young edge rusher still has a lot to prove. So far, through four games, the Bears' front four has struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Fortunately, Chicago is currently on their bye week. This gives the front office time to explore potential trades and any remaining free agent pass rushers. That said, one former second-round edge rusher was just cleared to return from a knee injury.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, former San Francisco 49ers second-round pick Drake Jackson was cleared to return on Friday. Schefter added that he has visits set up with the New York Jets, Washington Commanders, and Baltimore Ravens this weekend and next week. It would be a good idea for general manager Ryan Poles to at least explore adding Jackson.
Bears Must Look Into Adding DE Drake Jackson
The 49ers selected Jackson with the 61st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Clearly, they had high hopes for the former University of Southern California pass rusher. Unfortunately, his career didn't pan out well in San Francisco.
In his first two seasons, Jackson recorded 21 tackles, six sacks, and nine passes defensed. Furthermore, he earned a 64.1 pass-rushing grade in his second season. Despite that being a decent production, 49ers fans expected more out of the second-round pick, especially because he was rushing opposite Nick Bosa.
In the middle of the 2023 season, Jackson tore his patellar tendon, which has sidelined him for 23 months. While patellar tendon injuries are one of the toughest to come back from, bringing Jackson in could be a low-risk, high-reward scenario for Poles.
The 25-year-old still has immense potential. There is a reason why the 49ers took him so high in the draft. At 6-foot-4, 273 pounds, Jackson fits the type of player defensive coordinator Dennis Allen likes.
Moreover, since he has a lot to prove coming off his injury, Chicago won't be forced to give up a lot of money. That's a benefit since they are already paying Odeyingbo a huge contract. Adding Jackson alongside soon-to-be returning preseason standout Austin Booker could give the Bears' pass rush the juice it needs in 2025.
As it stands right now, the Bears cannot afford to sit back and hope their current group figures it out. While taking a chance on Jackson may not completely solve Chicago's pass-rush issues, it could provide much-needed depth and upside at a position of weakness.