Another outstanding edge rusher to complement Montez Sweat, whom the Bears signed and acquired before the NFL trade deadline, is one of the team’s top needs this summer.
With Sweat’s old teammate, could the Bears meet that need? Jeremy Fowler of ESPN insiders thinks the Bears might sign Chase Young in the summer.
“Washington traded its star defensive line bookends at the 2023 trade deadline, with Sweat then thriving as the Chicago Bears’ lead rusher and Young now competing for a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers,” Fowler stated.
“Chicago assessed both Young and Sweat in the months preceding the deadline in an attempt to strengthen its pass rush. The Bears, who might spend more money in free agency to recruit a pass-rusher like Young, awarded Sweat a four-year, $98 million extension.”
In fact, the Bears assessed both Young and Sweat, who were both declared free agents close to the NFL trade deadline. Sweat was chosen by Poles, who signed a four-year contract with him after selling a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to obtain him.
Young was signed by the 49ers with a third-round compensatory pick, and he played for the remainder of the campaign. As they get ready to play the Detroit Lions in the NFC championship, he is now supporting them during the postseason.
However, Young becomes an unrestricted free agency after the season. That explains why you may have scratched your head at the ridiculously low cost the 49ers paid to get Young. Young hasn’t signed a long-term contract with the 49ers, so it looks like they are renting him.