A recent offseason prediction from Bleacher Report has the Chicago Bears signing Chase Young from the New Orleans Saints
The Chicago Bears need to address both lines this upcoming offseason in big ways. One asset they desperately need is an edge on the opposite side of Montez Sweat. Whether the front office addresses this need through the draft of free agency, it is a hole in the defense that they simply can’t ignore any longer.
Matt Holder of Bleacher Report has a feeling that the Chicago Bears will lock up Chase Young as their edge rushing addition this offseason.
Edge-rusher has been an issue in Chicago all season, and Darrell Taylor is an impending free agent. Meanwhile, the front office has $82 million to spend in free agency, meaning it could target a big fish on the open market.
Young will be one of the top pass-rushers available this spring because of his age and production. While the 25-year-old had just 5.5 sacks through Week 16 this season, PFF had him with the ninth-most pressures (58) at his position. This would also bring the top two edge defenders from the 2020 draft class to the Windy City.
The fit makes sense for both parties. Young could land the two to a three-year deal that is he looking for and the Chicago Bears would be getting a much-needed short-term fix on their defensive line.
Chase Young would be helping out the Chicago Bears’ pass rush in a big way
The Chicago Bears have struggled mightily when attempting to get to the quarterback over the last couple of seasons. Despite the defensive unit as a whole seeing a decent amount of success for former head coach Matt Eberflus, the pass-rushing efforts have consistently been a weak spot.
Young’s current 5.5 sacks are the second most he has posted in a season throughout his career thus far, just behind his 7.5 sacks in his rookie year. The former number two overall pick in the 2020 draft was dealt from Washington to San Francisco during the season last year and then inked a one-year deal in New Orleans.
The PFF grade for Young’s pass-rushing abilities this season sits at 65.7, good for 63rd out of 205 qualified edge rushers. He is a bit weaker against the run, but the Chicago Bears are so needy for any type of success on the outside when it comes to getting to the quarterback that they should be more than fine with sacrificing in that notion.
Chase Young would be joining a familiar face on the Chicago Bears defensive line
Young coming to the Windy City would make for a reunion for himself and Montez Sweat. The duo spent three and a half years lined up on the opposite side of one another in Washington. They were each traded by the Commanders a year ago near the trade deadline, with Chicago scooping up Sweat for a second-round draft choice.
The connection between Sweat and Young could certainly be used as a recruiting tool for the former Ohio State Buckeye once free agency hits in March. Money will talk for Young, but playing for the Chicago Bears could be very enticing in its own right with the buzz around the franchise at the moment for next year.
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