And just like that, the Chicago Bears seemingly resolved their greatest lingering question mark on an otherwise overhauled roster, adding Pro Bowl pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue on a one-year $10.5 million contract less than two full weeks into training camp.
Yannick Ngakoue Claps Back at Critics After Joining Bears
Yannick Ngakoue’s Run Defense in Question
Ngakoue, 28, comes with a track record of producing sacks despite changing teams three times over the last two years.
He also comes with questions about his run defense to which he had a direct response.
“They’ll see this year,” Ngakoue said to the gaggle of reporters during his introductory presser at Halas Hall after Friday’s practice.
The former No. 69 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft earned a 56.9 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus in 2022. That is the lowest mark of his career. He recorded 9.5 sacks for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022.
That grade would have ranked third among the Bears’ returning defensive linemen. It would have put him behind EDGE rusher Trevis Gipson and defensive tackle Justin Jones.
And Ngakoue’s 43.7 rush grade was just the fifth-best of his career.
But anyone worried that he won’t “fit in” with the Bears after head coach Matt Eberflus said in no uncertain terms that he would have to on early downs i.e. against the threat of the run might want to relax a bit. That rush defense grade would have beaten out every one of the Bears’ returning linemen from what was the NFL’s 32nd-ranked run defense.
Previous free agent signings DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green both graded out better than Ngakoue last season. But both are more tweeners than pure pass rushers as he is making them ideal fits against the run.
That means the Bears can focus their additional support to Ngakoue’s side assuming those guys can hold up as advertised.
In the end, an already re-tooled defense just got a little more toothy with Ngakoue’s addition.
They are surely more than willing to bank on his proven history. A history that includes a Pro Bowl appearance in 2017 – rather than a down season on a bad Colts defense. Especially considering their relatively minor investment in a player they should be able to flip at the deadline if this thing goes off the rails.
Bears Add Blocking Specialist From Rival Packers
Last offseason, the Bears hired Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator and signed guard Lucas Patrick and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown away from their most-hated rival, the Green Bay Packers.
This offseason they continued bringing in players familiar with Gety’s scheme, adding a pair of tight ends.
They brought in Robert Tonyan during the first wave of free agency. And, before Friday’s practice, adding veteran Marcedes Lewis. While Tonyan is more like a wide receiver than an in-line tight end, Lewis, 39, is one of the best blockers at his position, having made an 18-year career out of it.
But the 6-foot-6, 267-pounder can still make things happen in the passing game too.
Marcedes Lewis is everything you could ever ask for in a teammate and a leader.
Will always appreciate his time with the #Packers. pic.twitter.com/SW99srohVX
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) August 4, 2023
This is just another sign from general manager Ryan Poles that the Bears are all-in on quarterback Justin Fields. Fields’ second half of the 2022 campaign offered plenty of glimpses of what he can become with the proper pieces around him.
The Bears hope they have done just that. They have added six players since the start of last season including Chase Claypool – who is having a strong start to camp – at the trade deadline.
Main Photo: Mykal McEldowney/USA TODAY NETWORK
