With training camp just a few weeks away, the Chicago Bears are one of the clubs that could still benefit from an edge upgrade.
There are a few viable free agent choices, two of which Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated linked to Chicago in a June 25 mailbag.
“They’ll get a look at D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson at running back, and Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo (who plays some inside on passing downs) on the edges when the pads go on, and then maybe consider guys such as Jamaal Williams at running back or Za’Darius Smith or Matthew Judon as edge rushers,” according to Breer.
The Bears have reloaded their roster under new head coach Ben Johnson.
The issue to which Breer was answering concerned NFL teams positioned to move from last to first place in their respective divisions, specifically whether Chicago is completed adding to the roster, particularly at running back and defensive end.
Chicago fell far short of expectations last season, during quarterback Caleb Williams’ debut year. The club finished 5-12, while all three of its NFC North opponents made the playoffs.
The Detroit Lions, who won the division for the second straight year in 2024, lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears during the summer. Johnson was aggressive in free agency during his first year as a head coach.
Working with general manager Ryan Poles to improve the offensive line in front of Williams and expand his pass-catching corps.
Chicago’s defense has received less attention, despite the fact that the team signed two big free agents this offseason: Odeyingbo and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Nonetheless, neither is a dominant pass rusher at his position, and the Bears may use another rotational pass-rush specialist to add depth in 2025.
Poles expressed interest in Judon last summer before the New England Patriots traded him to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round choice in the 2025 draft.
Matthew Judon Could Bring Key Backfield Disruption to the Bears’ Defense
Judon, who will be 33 years old this season, has most certainly played beyond his prime, which included four consecutive Pro Bowl berths (2019-22) and a top-10 finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting following the 2022 season.
Judon recorded 43.5 sacks over that four-year period and 72 total sacks across his nine-year career, along with 174 quarterback hits and 94 tackles for loss, according to Pro Football Reference.
Judon has only 9.5 sacks over the last two years, despite playing in only 21 games due to torn biceps sustained in Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys during the 2023 season.
He returned to the Falcons’ lineup in 2024, appearing in 17 games and making 15 starts. However, he only recorded nine quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks during that time.
If the Bears sign Judon, he is unlikely to start or play a large number of snaps save on obvious and/or expected pass-rush downs. However, a few extra backfield interruptions could mean the difference between Chicago’s postseason campaign and another season that ends after Week 18.
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