No Defensive Ends Means No Bad News

Analysis: If the Bears were looking at defensive ends among waiver wire types, then it would have shown they're not serious about adding talent to the roster.

A group of players in for Bears tryouts Monday could only be construed as good news for their defense.

That's because there were no defensive ends on the list of tryouts released by Houston NFL reporter Aaron Wilson.

The Bears reportedly worked out and signed wide receiver Isaiah Ford, the former Miami Dolphins player. They also gave workouts to wide receivers Victor Bolden, Isaiah Zuber and Trey Quinn, tight ends Lachlan Pitts, Roger Carter Jr. and Jared Pinkney and linebackers B.J. Bello, Buddy Johnson and Khalan Tolson. They have reportedly signed both Ford and Johnson.

The fact there were no defensive ends being looked at is good news because it means they're looking seriously at defensive ends and not these undrafted and practice squad types who likely would eventually be cut anyway. 

They need impact players and have money for them, not the players who wind up on waivers or practice squads. 

The real need is for someone who can exert pressure in passing situations and record sacks. They had 10 1/2 sacks by all defensive ends last year.

The Bears added free agents DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green this off-season. Neither rated near the top of edge rushers, but do have solid all-around credentials. 

Mobbing on the low .. pic.twitter.com/yfZzTYcS0K

— Chase Claypool (@ChaseClaypool) July 24, 2023

A pass rusher like Yannick Ngakoue, Justin Houston or even trading for Chase Young as good complements are what they actually need, rather than a player off the street who hadn't been wanted back on a practice squad with another team.

As for the players they brought in, Bello is a former Illinois State linebacker with 20 tackles in 33 games during a career with stops in Cleveland, Philadelphia, the Jets and LA. Chargers. Tolson is a former Illini linebacker who had started most of his career in Champaign and made 76 tackles this past season for the USFL's Houston Gamblers.

The other linebacker, Johnson, is a 6-foot-2, 240-pound former Steelers fourth-round pick who was waived in August of 2021

There seems a real need for another veteran tight end in camp as the Bears have only five on the roster. In the past, they usually brought in six or even seven tight ends. In 2019, they had a whole side of tight ends, or 11, at one point on their off-season roster. So five seems a small number for working through camp practices.

Pinkney is a 6-4, 255-pound former Rams and Lions tight end. He had four games with the Rams and two with Detroit, and had nor eceptions. Pitts is an undrafted free agent from William and Mary. Carter is 24-year-old undrafted free agent who appeared in one game with the Rams.

Of the receivers who didn't get signed, Mississippi State's Zuber has been with New England for two catches and 29 yards in four games but spent most of his time on the practice squad. He also was on the Jets and Raiders practice squad.

Bolden is an undersized (5-8, 178) Oregon State receiver who made 24 kick returns for a 21.3-yard average. He has a background a bit like Bears receiver Nsimba Webster in that he's been around a while as a return man and small receiver. He was with the 49ers, Bills, Broncos, Lions and Cardinals.

Quinn is a 6-foot-, 200-pound former Washington receiver from SMU who caught nine passes in 2018 and 26 in 2019, before being waived after a few injuires and signed with the Jaguars practice squad. The Raiders and Broncos later signed and waived him.

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