Should the Chicago Bears sign UFL DPOY Breeland Speaks?

The Chicago Bears should get creative while continuing to search for pass-rushing upgrades through the remaining portion of the offseason. New defensive coordinator Eric Washington is tasked with upgrading a unit that finished 31st in the league last season with just 30 quarterback takedowns. There aren’t any straightforward solutions on the roster at the EDGE position besides Montez Sweat.

As things stand, DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker, and Dominique Robinson are the three defensive ends jockeying for position opposite Sweat. Walker is entering the second year of a three-year, $21 million contract that he didn’t exactly live up to last season. Robinson is a 2022 fifth-rounder who hasn’t quite developed yet, and Booker is a rookie fifth-rounder.

The Bears haven’t shown much interest in re-signing Yannick Ngkaoue after he produced an inefficient 4.0 sacks in 13 appearances last season. Nor have we heard any reported interest in available veterans like Carl Lawson or Emmanuel Ogbah. If Ryan Poles wants to get creative with a potential reinforcement, he should kick the tires on reigning UFL Defensive Player of the Year Breeland Speaks.

Speaks led the UFL, which just concluded its inaugural regular season, in sacks with 9.5 quarterback takedowns. At least two teams are already showing reported interest in Speaks. Approximately 10 UFL players have already signed NFL contracts, according to ProFootballTalk.

Source: The #Titans have been in contact with Breeland Speaks, the UFL Defensive Player of the Year

READ: https://t.co/1Y9rf1gKMQ pic.twitter.com/Y7Bdqu1FXp

— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) June 19, 2024

Speaks initially entered the league as a second-round selection of the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2018 NFL Draft. The Bears drafted James Daniels less than 10 picks before the Chiefs selected Speaks. He quickly washed out of the league, recording just 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks before being released from his contract.

Want an ad-free Bears Talk, access to our exclusive content, and a fully unlocked commenting platform? Become a Premium Bears Talker today! It costs less than a cup of coffee per month! Sign up here.

Speaks has since maximized his opportunities via different spring leagues to breathe life back into his reputation. The former Ole Miss standout first led the USFL (Michigan Panthers) in sacks with 9.0. And now, following the USFL-XFL merger, Speaks repeated those efforts in the newly-minted UFL, winning Defensive Player of the Year honors for his efforts.

Speaks won’t be available on the open market for long. Poles should consider joining the multi-team race for his services. Speaks could potentially upgrade the Bears’ largest roster-related sore spot.