Chicago Bears reportedly a favorite to land Pro Bowl defender

The Chicago Bears won 11 games and captured the NFC North division title last season and then went on to defeat the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. It was a massive step forward for an organization that had won a playoff game since January 2011, but there is still work to do.

The Bears are viewed as Super Bowl contenders heading into 2026, but it’s clear some holes remain on the roster. The most significant of all may be the pass rush, as Chicago totaled just 35 sacks last year and has done nothing to fix it this offseason.

As of right now, the Bears seem primed to roll with an edge rusher rotation that features Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker. Sweat is a very good player, but Odeyingbo logged just one sack in eight games before suffering a torn Achilles last season. Meanwhile, Booker managed 4.5 sacks in 10 contests.

Chicago could absolutely use another proven pass rusher in its front seven, but it has completely ignored all of the available options. For now.

Jason La Canfora of Sportsboom has revealed that the Bears could be in the running for a Pro Bowler at the position: Jadeveon Clowney.

Chicago Bears named landing spot for Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney is one of several veteran pass rushers still left on the open market, and La Canfora has reported that Chicago could be on his radar.

“Every team in the NFC North, for instance, is lacking a defensive player in the mold of Clowney, and it would not surprise league execs if he ended up with Chicago,” La Canfora wrote.

La Canfora added that Clowney is in no hurry to sign and doesn’t view a full training camp as a “prerequisite,” so he could be remaining in free agency for a little longer. But it would be truly shocking if he didn’t end up somewhere before the 2026 campaign begins.

Clowney spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys and registered 41 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 13 games. The former No. 1 overall pick began his NFL career with the Houston Texans in 2014 and made three Pro Bowls there, although he has bounced around the league ever since departing Houston after 2018.

While the 33-year-old has never fully lived up to his lofty expectations, he has been productive wherever he has gone and would certainly represent a nice pickup for a Bears squad that could use another veteran presence on the edge.

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