The Chicago Bears don't need another superstar on defense. They could certainly use another player capable of making life miserable for a quarterback.
Azeez Ojulari suddenly gives them that option.
Atlanta surprisingly released the 26-year-old during final roster cuts, putting a pass rusher with 22 career sacks back on the market. As of Monday evening, Ojulari remains available. For a Bears team entering Week 1 with questions along its defensive front, Ryan Poles should at least make the call.
Bears could use another threat opposite Montez Sweat
Montez Sweat is still the guy opposing offensive lines have to worry about first. After him, Chicago is betting on quite a bit.
Austin Booker has shown promise, but the Bears are still waiting for that promise to turn into consistent production. Dayo Odeyingbo is returning from an Achilles injury, while Shemar Turner will begin the season on the PUP list.
Ojulari wouldn't walk into Halas Hall and suddenly fix everything. He wouldn't have to.
The former Giants second-round pick recorded eight sacks as a rookie and has shown an ability to get to the quarterback when healthy. His biggest problem has been staying on the field.
That part can't be ignored.
Injuries followed Ojulari throughout his time in New York and limited him again last season. Chicago would be gambling that a smaller role could help keep him available.
For a rotational pass rusher, that's not a terrible gamble to take.
Atlanta releasing Azeez Ojulari should concern Chicago
There is an obvious question here.
If Ojulari can still help a pass rush, why did Atlanta cut him?
The Falcons signed him in March and still decided five months later that he wasn't worth a spot on the initial 53-man roster. This isn't a team overflowing with pass rushers, either.
That's enough to make anyone suspicious.
It shouldn't automatically end the conversation.
Chicago wouldn't be investing a second-round pick or handing Ojulari a massive contract. He's available days before the regular season, when leverage isn't exactly on his side. Bring him in, check the medicals and determine whether there's enough left to justify a spot.
If the answer is no, Poles moves along.
If the answer is yes, Dennis Allen suddenly has another pass rusher he can throw at offenses without asking Sweat to do everything.
Chicago Bears can afford this kind of gamble
The Bears spent the offseason building a roster they believe can contend now. That changes the calculation on players like Ojulari.
A rebuilding team might rather give those snaps to a 22-year-old and see what happens. Chicago doesn't have to think that way.
It needs players who can help win games.
Ojulari has already shown he can rush an NFL quarterback. He doesn't need 50 snaps a week or a guaranteed starting job. Put him into obvious passing situations, let him chase quarterbacks and see whether a reduced workload brings some of his old production back.
Maybe Atlanta saw enough this summer to know better.
Or maybe the Bears just found a useful pass rusher sitting on the street a week before the season.
For the cost of finding out, Poles shouldn't ignore him.
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