Of all the Bears’ needs, pass rusher should rank No. 1 for Ryan Pace right now

SHARE Of all the Bears’ needs, pass rusher should rank No. 1 for Ryan Pace right now
panthers_bears_football_72107571.jpg

Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (sacking Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in Week 7) had 4.5 sacks in 10 games this season before missing the final six games with a knee injury. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)

INDIANAPOLIS — Officially, outside linebacker Willie Young’s time with the Bears ended Wednesday, when general manager Ryan Pace announced he would be cut. A press release from the team soon followed.

But Young’s run with the Bears probably ended months ago. After he was put on injured reserve with a torn triceps, his locker was removed from Halas Hall. Other players on IR weren’t treated in that manner. Young was being replaced on and off the field.

RELATED STORIES

Irish linemen Quenton Nelson, Mike McGlinchey dream of reunion with Bears coach

Bears eye Chiefs WR Albert Wilson as free-agent fix

General manager Ryan Pace should be prepared, however, for his most significant challenge this offseason. Young and Pernell McPhee being released didn’t come as a surprise, but their departures leave the organization thin at arguably the second-most important position in football. The Bears have their passer in Mitch Trubisky; now they need their pass rushers — and more than one.

“Pass rush is always a priority for us,” Pace said.

But more so this offseason.

It’s widely known in league circles that the Bears are checking out wide receivers and cornerbacks in free agency and the draft. As Pace said, it’s a good year for cornerbacks in both groups.

But beyond Leonard Floyd, the Bears only have Isaiah Irving, an undrafted free agent last year, under contract at outside linebacker for this season. They have interest in re-signing Howard Jones, 28, an in-season signing who had one sack in four games.

Complicating matters for Pace is the weakness of the free-agent class. The Lions used the franchise tag on Ziggy Ansah, and the Cowboys plan to do the same with Demarcus Lawrence if a long-term deal isn’t reached.

When Julius Peppers, 38, is considered one of the best edge rushers in free agency, that’s not only a bad sign for the Bears, but a problematic one for Pace. He’d better have a plan — an inventive one at that — to address a glaring hole on his team.

Other available outside linebackers/pass rushers include Trent Murphy (Redskins) and Adrian Clayborn (Falcons). But it doesn’t matter whom the Bears sign in free agency or how much they give those players. Adding an outside linebacker/pass rusher not only will be a need in the draft but — as Pace said — a priority. It’s arguably a bigger requirement than cornerback or wide receiver.

Draft evaluations start with North Carolina State’s Bradley Chubb, who could fall to the Bears at No. 8 if there’s a run on quarterbacks.

“You can never have enough pass rush,” Pace said. “So that’s a position of need for us, and it’s something we’re looking into.”

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio can only help the pass rush so much. Last season, outside linebackers accounted for 18½ of the Bears’ 42 sacks, tied for seventh-most in the NFL. Inside linebackers and defensive backs combined for eight sacks through various blitzes and pressures.

Being able to consistently count on four pass rushers was an option the Bears couldn’t rely on last season because of injuries. And now, the Bears simply don’t have the numbers. Floyd is their only threat who demands respect from the opposition.

Further complicating matters are lingering concerns about Floyd, who still needs to live up to expectations as the ninth overall pick in 2016.

His durability remains a concern after a bad-luck collision with cornerback Kyle Fuller resulted in damaged ligaments in his right knee. He missed six games.

The Bears need more from Floyd, but they also need to give him some help.

“We feel good about Leonard,” Pace said. “[Defensive lineman] Akiem Hicks is going to provide a lot of pass rush, but as we go forward, we’re always going to be looking for pass rushers.”

Follow me on Twitter @adamjahns.

Email: ajahns@suntimes.com

The Latest
A 22-year-old man named Christian I. Soto was charged with murder, attempted murder and home invasion, official said during a Thursday media briefing. Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd said investigators haven’t determined a motive for the attacks.
Can a message generated by an algorithm ever match hearing from a human?
White Sox fans from all over will flock to Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday for the team’s home opener against the Tigers.
Despite the addition of some new characters (human and otherwise) the film comes across as a relatively uninspired and fairly forgettable chapter in the Monsterverse saga.
Unite Here Local 1, representing the workers at the Signature Room and its lounge, said in a lawsuit in October the employer failed to give 60 days notice of a closing or mass layoff, violating state law.