13 hours Ago By Bears Wire
The 2025 offseason is in full swing, and it’s another important one for the Chicago Bears , who are looking to make a splash under new head coach Ben Johnson. General manager Ryan Poles should be quite active in free agency, with a projected $80 million in salary cap space, and he has some big decisions to make with key players hitting the market at positions of need. The Bears also have a top-10 draft selection and four picks in the Top 75 to shore up key needs in the trenches and beyond.
This spring should be a busy one as the Bears look to build on their growth from the 2024 season in hopes of returning to the postseason. Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2025 offseason. As much as the offensive line is a major need for the team, addressing the pass rush is just as important, with the Bears needing to get to opposing quarterbacks next season.
Who's on the roster? After coming in and making an immediate impact upon being traded to Chicago in the middle of the 2023 season, Montez Sweat took a major step back this past year. Recording just 5.5 sacks on the year, Sweat did not perform up to expectations after signing a massive contract extension coming into the season.
The veteran was looked at as one of the premier leaders on the defense and came way under his previous half-season performance where he totaled 6.0 sacks in just nine games, and 5.5 sacks in 16 games in the 2024 season.
Austin Booker was a fifth-round pick out of Kansas last year and has shown moments in which he can produce as a pass rusher. Currently, there is not much proven depth behind Sweat, but Booker is one of the young talents who could thrive under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen if the team gives him the opportunity to prove himself. Dominique Robinson and Jamree Kromah are not much more than the names on the roster as they had limited to no production this past year.
It is of the utmost importance that the Bears bring in deep and productive talent around Sweat, and whether it's in free agency or the draft in April, expect several new names on the roster. Who's slated to hit free agency? There is not much to say about these three pending free agents, as the one who makes the most sense to return is Darrell Taylor. Acquired from Seattle in a trade last offseason, Taylor was limited in action but still produced with 3.
0 sacks and two forced fumbles, finding himself getting pressure when given the opportunity. Both Jacob Martin and Daniel. Hardy played less than 20% of snaps this past year, so it's more likely than not that the team will not look to re-sign either of them.
Chicago should be expected to heavily revamp this position group for defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, both coming into their first season with the organization. Who might join the Bears? Could the Bears be interested in a reunion with Khalil Mack? The former Bears continues to produce even after he just turned 34 years old this offseason. Mack will be an interesting case to monitor as he is coming off a season with 6.
0 sacks and in 2023, he had 17.0. Overall, since Mack was traded to the Chargers ahead of the 2022 season, he has compiled 31 sacks in those three seasons.
Averaging just over 10 sacks a season on the other side of 30 years old? There's nothing more that needs to be said about Mack's talent and what he could contribute to the Chicago defense, which is well known from his previous time with the franchise. Outside of Mack, there are a few intriguing names on the open market who all present a different aspect of their career and what they would bring to the organization. Josh Sweat of the Philadelphia Eagles is coming off a Super Bowl performance where he could've won the MVP award and is likely to cash in on a big pay day because of it.
Veteran DeMarcus Lawrence of the Dallas Cowboys could be an interesting name if the team decided to stick with adding respected pass rushers with plenty of experience. Other names who could be considered at a younger age are Chase Young and Azeez Ojulari, who are still relatively young in their careers, looking for their biggest opportunity. Ojulari and Young are talented pass rushers who have not yet had the opportunity to take their game to the next level, but if their price fits, Chicago could certainly benefit from getting them on the roster.
Positional need: High When it comes to edge rush talent, the Bears have Montez Sweat and no one else behind him. This is also on the heels of Sweat having an extremely disappointing season last year, and he needs to have other top players around him. It is of the utmost importance to get to opposing quarterbacks in today's NFL, and with the Bears finishing with just 40 sacks as a team in 2024.
Many will say that All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns should be a trade target for Chicago, but that is likely going to take away from the assets they need to improve in other areas on the roster. Protecting the quarterback and getting to the quarterback on defense, that is how the Bears can vastly improve their roster this offseason. This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 2025 offseason preview: Where does Chicago stand at edge rusher?.
