Yannick Ngakoue is signing a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Chicago Bears that includes $10 million in guaranteed money, according to multiple NFL reports.
Ngakoue played for the Indianapolis Colts last season. He recorded 9.5 sacks and 18 solo tackles in 15 games. The 28-year-old pass rusher has posted at least eight sacks in every season of his seven-year NFL career.
The Bears were exploring the market for a potential addition at edge rusher. Last season, Chicago was led in sacks by safety Jaquan Brisker with four. The team’s pass rush pressured opposing quarterbacks on 22% of pass plays, which was second worst behind the Atlanta Falcons, and generated only 7.5 sacks from defensive linemen.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Yannick Ngakoue & Chicago Bears Updates
The Bears’ 20 sacks in 2022 were the fewest in the NFL. The team desperately needed to add a proven pass rusher and general manager Ryan Poles accomplished that by signing Ngakoue, who has 65 sacks, 135 quarterback hits, 31 forced fumbles and 65 tackles for loss in his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders and Colts.
Ngakoue spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Jaguars before the team placed the franchise tag on him during the 2020 offseason. He was traded from Jacksonville to Minnesota in August 2020 but only played six games with the Vikings before getting traded to the Ravens ahead of the trade deadline. After one-year stints with the Raiders and Colts, Ngakoue heads to the Bears, who are looking to make the playoffs this season under second-year head coach Matt Eberflus.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Yannick Ngakoue & Chicago Bears Updates
It will be fascinating to see how Ngakoue plays next season with the Bears, who went only 3-14 last season. Their defense gave up a league-leading 27.2 points per game.
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