Nothing over the past two months has confused Chicago Bears fans more than the team’s remarkable lack of action at the edge rush position. Outside of Montez Sweat, who had 10.5 sacks in 2025, the team had a multitude of problems. Pricey free agent Dayo Odeyingbo struggled through the first half of the season, then tore his Achilles. Rookie 2nd round pick Shemar Turner switched to defensive end after struggling at defensive tackle and promptly tore his ACL. Austin Booker missed several weeks with a knee injury after a stellar preseason. Having seen such turmoil, one would think the Bears would show greater urgency in finding help.
Yet after both free agency and the NFL draft, not a single addition was made. Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson insisted on their belief that getting Odeyingbo and Turner back healthy, along with Booker’s strong finish to the season, that they should be okay at edge. Many are skeptical, left wondering whether the Bears plan to dabble in the veteran market, where some notable names remain available. Albert Breer of the MMQB was asked about this. His response felt noteworthy.
The Chicago Bears are likely waiting for more information.
He believes the Bears won’t make a decision until they have enough information. That means waiting to see what the health status is of Odeyingbo and Turner this spring. If both have a chance to return for training camp, the team may hold off. If not, expect a move in the near future.
“I’d say it’s worth keeping that on your radar. Last year, like this year, the Bears didn’t spend a single draft pick on an edge player, despite their lengthy search for a better bookend to Montez Sweat. The hope in 2025 was that a combination of Dayo Odeyingbo, who can play on the edge on early downs but is better suited inside in passing situations, and Austin Booker would be enough. Odenyingbo got hurt. Booker battled injury, too. Which led some, myself included, to believe they’d bolster the position in the draft.
Now that they haven’t, I think the two names you mentioned would be in play as we get closer to the start of training camp. Cameron Jordan, of course, was with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in New Orleans, and might make sense as a short-term fix (he’ll be 37 in July). Similarly, Jadeveon Clowney fits the big, long, rugged type of edge player Allen favors. Seeing Odeyingbo and Booker in the spring should help inform decision-making on all of this.”
The Bears are in an awkward position.
They’ve invested a lot in the defensive line as is. Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett got sizable contracts last year. Turner was a high draft choice. They probably would rather try getting a return on their current investments. Signing prominent names like Cam Jordan or Jadeveon Clowney would take snaps away from them. While it may seem like an easy decision for people outside the organization, it isn’t that simple. The Bears believe in those players and feel they can be strong contributors. Good health is a crucial step in that process.
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That being said, time is not on their side. Odeyingbo’s injury requires a recovery time of 9-12 months. That basically means the odds of him being ready for camp are unlikely. Turner, on the other hand, is on a timeline that should have him ready for action, provided he doesn’t suffer any setbacks. If it plays out this way, would the Chicago Bears be comfortable going into the season with Sweat, Booker, and Turner as their primary trio, hoping that can suffice until Odeyingbo returns midseason?
It would be a risky gamble in a season where the Chicago Bears will face a much tougher schedule than last year. The sensible option would be to add as many capable bodies as possible. Jordan or Clowney would be temporary solutions, but nobody can argue that they wouldn’t help.
