The Far-Reaching Effect of Yannick Ngakoue

The signing of Yannick Ngakoue gives the Bears a viable edge rusher but there are always ramifications from roster additions. 

Players who were less effective now become better playing alongside or behind Ngakoue. Someone on the depth chart gets move down a rung. Someone can become available for trade.

Here are possible changes ahead now that the Bears have someone who could actually scare quarterbacks and offensive coordinators off the edge.

Takeaways

Last year the Bears generated 23 takeaways, a good amount considering they finished last in sacks with 20 and had to blitz to get pressure late in the year. 

It was an increase by six over takeaways generated in 2021, a good increase considering their lack of pressure on QBs. Consider what could actually happen now with heat on the passer.

"It certainly helps the guys on the back end, because of the timer on the shot clock," coach Matt Eberflus said. "They’re shorter, it closes a little bit. But I think it also helps them up front."

The other pass rushers become better with a dominant or at least a very good edge rusher. Consider what happened in 2021 with Trevis Gipson getting seven sacks and five forced fumbles as a replacement for Khalil Mack, aided greatly by Robert Quinn's record-setting sack performance. Gipson was a non-factor as a rookie but suddenly gets seven sacks with somone taking up pressure on the other side.

"Up front, it will help other one-on-ones appear, outside and inside," Eberflus said. "You can’t chip everybody. You can’t max-protect every down, you’re going to lose some guys in one-on-one. 

"That’s what the opportunity is on the back end and the front." 

It benefits Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker. It benefits Kyler Gordon in the slot, which is where a lot of passes get sent when QBs are in panic mode.

The Bears project to use DeMarcus Walker inside on their nickel defense. They'll have interior and perimeter pass rush pressure. He can really benefit if offensive coordinators move extra pass blocking over to Ngakoue's side.

Rasheem Green had his best season as a pass rusher in 2021 with Seattle with 6 1/2 sacks when they had Carlos Dunlap applying heat, attracting extra blocking and getting 8 1/2 sacks to lead the team. 

Decision Time

It could force the Bears' hands at some point prior to the trade deadline when it comes to a player like Gipson. His contract expires after this year. If he rebounds with a strong season after just three sacks last year, they could look to move him unless they are on a roll.

Gipson last year had a season that was deceptive. Although Pro Football Focus graded him near the bottom of all defensive linemen, he did have more pressures than any other season in his career, according to Sportradar. He also came out sixth overall among edges in the NFL in run-stop win rate according to ESPN.

So why would it be Gipson who would be more likely to get shopped? He was drafted by another GM for use up front in a different system. The thing with Gipson is he has already shown he's adaptable. So he could blow this whole scenarior to pieces.

The other reason it could be him is Dominique Robinson is a Ryan Poles draft pick and the Bears seem to hold out hope this former receiver can be an edge rusher. 

"If you see the way he moves, how he bends, his ankle flexion, the way works his move and gets around the edge, that’s a God-given ability," defensive tackle Justin Jones said of Robinson. "That’s not something you can coach. So he is a natural."

Defensive coordinator Alan Williams sees only positives out of this.

"That's a piece to the puzzle I'd hope that would improve our four-man rush, getting to the quarterback and with some veteran experience we've been talking about it's a race to maturity," he said. "So it's a guy that has some experience, that has some experience in terms of production hitting that passer, so that will help our young guys also."

If he's thinking about the young guys, which ones or which one?

Either way, it pushes Gipson, Robinson and Terrell Lewis down a notch and forces them to compete even harder for roster spots or playing time.

"It’s the same (effect): just, you compete. You compete," Eberflus said. "The NFL is about competition and this camp, our camp, is not different from any of the others. You bring a guy like that in here and you increase the competition for those spots."