Yannick Ngakoue Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bears ink best available defensive free agent to bolster pass rush

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 8/4/23

Following a season where the Chicago Bears were one of the worst teams in the NFL at getting after the quarterback, they made a big move to sure up their pass rush ahead of the 2023 campaign.

On Thursday night, the Bears inked free-agent defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to a one-year, $10.5 million contract, $10 million of which is guaranteed, per Adam Schefter of NFL Network.

Bears signing DE Yannick Ngakoue to a one-year, $10.5M deal. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/BJxr408IjB
— NFL (@NFL) August 4, 2023

Ngakoue's carousel of teams now makes a stop in Chicago. The Bears will be the 28-year-old's fourth team in as many seasons, with Ngakoue having played for the Minnesota Vikings (2020), Baltimore Ravens (2020), Las Vegas Raiders (2021) and Indianapolis Colts (2022).

Regardless of the location, Ngakoue produces. In 2022, Ngakoue was impressive in 15 games with the Colts, recording 9.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits.

A third-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2016 NFL Draft, Ngakoue has posted eight or more sacks in each season of his career, recording 65 total over 110 games. With a knack for getting to the QB, the eight-year veteran should immediately impact the Bears defensive line, which includes Andrew Billings, Justin Jones and DeMarcus Walker.

The Bears finished dead last in sacks (20) while allowing the highest completion percentage (67.2) in the NFL last season. With the addition of Ngakoue, Chicago now has a premiere pass-rusher capable of turning last year's abysmal numbers around.

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