Bears Could Be Edged Out

The lack of edge rushers by the Bears is deemed the NFL's fifth biggest roster hole and so many teams are looking for pass rush help they could get edged out.

While Bears GM Ryan Poles is being lauded on Pro Football Focus for his assembled linebacker corps, it obviously came at a cost.

The Bears do not have a standout edge rusher even after they possessed the means to grab one in the draft or free agency.

Their inability to produce an edge rusher so far this season has landed them in the list of the NFL's 10 biggest roster holes. Their lack of an edge rusher is the No. 5 biggest roster hole in the NFL according to NFL.com writer Kevin Patra, and it might be better to do something about it now.

"Poles and coach Matt Eberflus haven't prioritized the rush, but it would make life much easier on the back end if the Bears had a player who could win off the snap and command an offense's attention up front," Patra wrote.

True enough. They brought in DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green to join up with Dominique Robinson and Trevis Gipson. Gipson has had one season with more than three sacks, Robinson had 1 1/2 in his first game last year and none thereafter. Neither Green nor Walker have had more than seven sacks and each really only had one good pass-rushing season in the NFL.

The Bears were last in sacks last year and were led by safety Jaquan Brisker with four, and he only blitzed 15 times according to Sportradar.

There's a message within this story for the Bears GM. Despite the tendency to wait on a signing or trade of this time until training camp if not the end of it, this might not be possible.

Of the 10 biggest remaining roster holes on this list, four teams are looking specifically for edge rushers and three others are looking for anything they can get on the defensive line. The Chiefs, Jaguars and Ravens all are perceived as teams with the same roster hole as the Bears.

The Rams, Cardinals and Saints could use anything on the defensive front.

If everyone is looking for edge rush help, the Bears better get serious now about signing someone or they 'll be left on the outside looking in. On NBC Sports Chicago's "Football Night in Chicago," former Bears coach Dave Wannstedt said the Bears could wait on this until right before the season if need be, and suggested it was the way he and Jimmy Johnson used to do it.

Well, in case Wanny hasn't kept on it, these aren't Jimmy Johnson's Cowboys. The Bears were void of talent last year and need the pass rusher. Waiting on this is going to invite any of those six other teams who can use edge or defensive line help to act on players first.

Tennessee's lack of wide receiver help is listed one ahead of the Bears' roster issue while the Raiders' lack of cornerback is two ahead at No. 3. Arizona's defensive line need is No. 1 and the Rams' need for anything on defense is No. 2.

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