Bears urged to sign pass rusher they missed out on in 2024

The Chicago Bears were hot to trot for former New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons pass rusher Matthew Judon last year, this time. In fact, general manager Ryan Poles kicked the tires on a trade with the Patriots to add Judon as a complementary edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat, but New England ended up dealing with the Falcons instead.

Now, one year later, Judon remains an unsigned free agent as training camp approaches.

Meanwhile, the Bears could use more help in their pass-rush department. Poles added Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency, but that was it. Literally.

Only Austin Booker, a 2024 fifth-round pick, is a viable option behind Sweat and Odeyingbo, leaving the Bears and new defensive coordinator dangerously thin.

It’s why Judon was recently linked to the Bears in a projection of moves Chicago should make before training camp kicks off in a few weeks.

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“While Judon struggled with the Falcons and tallied just 5.5 sacks as a 15-game starter, Chicago may feel he fits better as a rotational pass rusher who can work in specific packages instead of depending on him as a three-down player,” Heavy.com’s Jordan Wilson wrote.

I wouldn’t mind a move like this for the Bears. Judon would come at a relatively low cost, as this projection suggests (one year, $7 million). In fact, Judon could be had at an even lower price than that.

According to Spotrac’s market valuation, Judon would likely cost the Bears just over $4 million.

Judon was a game-wrecking pass rusher in 2021 and 2022, totaling 28 sacks over that two-year period. He registered a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2022.

Injuries limited him to just four games and four sacks in 2023, and he had 5.5 sacks in his first full year back last year.

Judon will be 33 years old next season, and while his best football is certainly behind him, the Chicago Bears would be wise to consider at least adding him to their pass-rush rotation before finding out the hard way that their current group can’t get the job done. He may just be the best of the remaining options available to Poles.

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