Announcement: Chicago Bears Closing In On Deal To Sign All-Pro DE With 112 Career Sacks

The Chicago Bears have made it plain that they seek pass rushers.

Matt Eberflus, head coach, confirmed this in an August 13 interview with CBS Sports. Multiple NFL insiders, including Jeremy Fowler of ESPN and Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, reported Chicago’s interest in Matthew Judon, who was eventually traded to the Atlanta Falcons on August 15.

With limited free agent alternatives, Justin Houston, who has links to Chicago’s current staff, appears to be the team’s best remaining edge option.

On August 15, Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron stated, “Who knows if the Bears have interest in Houston, who’s 35 years old and definitely not in the prime of his career,” “That said, you could certainly do worse than the four-time Pro Bowler, who had 11.5 sacks just two seasons ago.”

Justin Houston’s Multiple Ties to Bears Could Lead to His Signing

Houston spent the first eight years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs (2011-2018), earning four Pro Bowl selections and one first-team All-Pro honor. In Kansas City, Houston met current Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who was the Chiefs’ college scouting coordinator/director during Houston’s time there.

Houston joined the Indianapolis Colts’ defense in 2019 and 2020, following his experience in Kansas City.

“He spent two seasons working under Eberflus with the Colts, tallying 11.0 and 8.0 sacks in those respective years,” Infante noted on Houston. “He’s probably best suited for a rotational position at this point in his career, which is what the Bears are likely to offer him. Familiarity and a path to playing time may be appealing as Houston seeks a position in what could be his final season.”

Houston joined the Ravens in 2021, where he spent two seasons. In 14 games in 2022, he recorded 17 quarterback hits, 7 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 9.5 sacks. During his 13-year career, he has 112.0 total sacks and 185 quarterback hits.

Houston’s 2023 season was curtailed by a hamstring ailment. He played seven games for the Carolina Panthers before being placed on injured reserve. He requested to be released later in the season, and the Miami Dolphins picked him up for a possible playoff run. Miami was eliminated in the Wild Card round and did not play again after Week 7 last season.

His links to the Chicago coaching staff may not lead to his joining the team, but his familiarity with Eberflus’ defense can’t harm.

Bears Could Also Rely on Young Pass Rushers More

Chicago chose rookie Austin Booker in the fifth round of the 2024 draft, and he has had a strong preseason.

Booker recorded five tackles, including two for loss, three quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks in Chicago’s second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.

“He’s got that natural ability to slip and move around the corner, be able to take the inside charge if you give him,” Eberflus said about Booker on August 3. “He doesn’t do anything preplanned, which is fantastic. He is an instinctive rusher. He goes, and then responds to what he observes. I think that’s difficult to defend.”

Dominique Robinson, who is on the team’s fringes, has also shown promise this preseason, including an excellent third-down tackles-for-loss against the Bills.

Robinson, who is entering his third season in the NFL, changed his body over the winter. He weighed 253 pounds last season, according to the team’s official website. He now has approximately 20 pounds of muscle on his 6-foot-5 body.

“I gained, I think, close to 15 pounds of muscle,” Robinson stated on August 15. “I arrived at camp about 273, with about 8% body fat. To be able to come in at that weight and gain strength during the offseason simply made me a better football player overall.”

While the Bears are still expected to add another defensive end in free agency, they may also end up relying more on their young edge rushers, which would be ideal.