The pool of potential roster additions shrank for Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears this week, as veteran Cameron Jordan–who has ties to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen–re-signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency.
Chicago has been firmly behind its in-house talent to help rejuvenate a moribund pass rush, including 2025 second-round pick Shemar Turner, who missed the offseason program. That is a risky gamble in a potential Super Bowl window.
Instead, the Bears could–and arguably, should–explore some of the readily available options.
Former Rookie of the Year, Super Bowl Champion Among Options for Bears’ Roster
Bears Could Turn to Ex-Chargers Star in Free Agency
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz suggested that the Bears take a look at former Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills star Joey Bosa to bolster their roster and possibly start opposite Montez Sweat.
Schatz noted Austin Booker’s contributions, but that Dayo Odeyingbo was a disappointment.
“Bosa had a 12.2% pass rush win rate last season, 26th among qualifying edge rushers, to go along with five sacks for Buffalo,” Schatz wrote on June 18. “He has played most of his career with his hand on the ground, so he’s probably the best fit for Chicago’s 4-3 base out of the top three available veteran pass rushers.”
Bosa, 31 in July, is also the youngest and has the highest projected market value ($13.7 million, per Spotrac) among the top trio. That number is currently untenable for the Bears.
Ex-Bears First-Round Draft Pick Could Be Fitting Addition to Roster
The group also includes former Bears first-round pick Leonard Floyd. A bust in Chicago, Floyd has carved out a solid career as a pass rusher rusher, including winning a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.
He posted 3.5 sacks in 2025 with his hometown Atlanta Falcons. However, he had 8.5 sacks or more for five straight seasons before that.
Floyd will turn 34 in September and has a projected market value of $8.9 million.
That is still too high for the Bears, who currently sit at $8.2 million, per Over The Cap. Floyd also notably did not make Schatz’s list, with Haason Reddick the other EDGE mentioned. Reddick is a better fit as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 base defense, though.
Floyd, who has experience in multiple defense, is a better projected fit for what the Bears want to do under Allen, even though he is lighter than what the coach has typically had in the past.
Former No. 1 Overall Pick Remains Available
The most intriguing option could be Jadeveon Clowney, who has a projected market value of $5.7 million. He was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft. Schatz suggested Clowney as a fit for the Green Bay Packers to fill in for Micah Parsons. Clowney, 33, had 8.5 sacks in 2025, but his production has fluctuated most of all.
He had 5.5 sacks in 2024, 9.5 sacks in 2023, and 2.0 sacks in 2022.
Clowney had 9.0 socks in 2021, but he also has an extensive injury history. Injuries are part of why Odeyingbo was such a disappointment. Gambling on an oft-sidelined player is a big gamble.
There are a host of other options. They include several players who are younger and could stick around longer if they show well. The quality drops off quickly, though, which could explain why the Bears have stood pat so far.
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