It would appear the fight for the #4 spot at outside linebacker for the Chicago Bears defense has come down to two guys. One is the current holder of the job from last season in Isaiah Irving. He continues to show an all-around consistency to his game against the run and pass. He’s not anything special. Just a decent football player. The other is challenger James Vaughters. A signing from the CFL, he’s stood out as a pass rusher during the preseason with two highlight-reel strip-sacks.
Kylie Fitts? Mathieu Betts? Chuck Harris? None of them have stood out nearly enough to be considered viable options. They’ll be competing for a spot on the practice squad. However, it might be a bit premature to simply hand that coveted final spot to either Irving or Vaughters just yet. It’s possible GM Ryan Pace may go searching for outside options next week when NFL teams cut down their rosters from 90 players to 53.
This makes the odds somewhat favorable that at least one notable edge rusher might become available. With time winding down, here are three names worth watching who could fit what the Bears are looking for.
Pass rush options for the Chicago Bears defense next week
Wyatt Ray (Cleveland Browns)
An undrafted free agent out of Boston College, Ray faced an uphill climb from the start. Projections almost universally see him on the practice squad for Cleveland, which is a shame because he’s played well enough to be a main roster. He was great against the run in the preseason opener and then had a sack and a hit on the quarterback the next week. He isn’t a standout athlete but he’s got enough juice to see the upside.
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Shane Ray (Baltimore Ravens)
The former 1st round pick had hoped signing in Baltimore would give him a chance to regain his all-too-brief standout form in Denver. Sadly he ran into a deep depth chart and it sounds like the Ravens just don’t have the space to keep him as a reserve. So the question becomes does he offer more than Irving or Vaughters? Ray had eight sacks in 2016. So he’s shown he is capable of having such seasons. The problem is he hasn’t stayed healthy enough since then to believe he can do again. Still, as a #4 option, it may be a worthwhile gamble.
Olasunkanmi Adeniyi (Pittsburgh Steelers)
This kid could be an unfortunate victim of timing. Adeniyi is currently recovering from meniscus surgery, which has stalled his climb towards making the final roster. The kid appeared poised to do so. In five preseason games dating back to last year, he has 11 pressures, 3 hits, and 3 sacks on the quarterback. Not to mention two forced fumbles. He has a natural pass rush skill. While not the biggest or most athletic, the guy understands his primary job and appears quite good at it. The injury situation bears watching, but he has potential.
