Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles made his big splashes in the offseason, free agency and the 2025 NFL draft, upgrading both the roster and the coaching staff altogether. But there are still some holes on the roster.

After the Green Bay Packers made the biggest blockbuster trade in recent NFL history by landing standout edge rusher Micah Parsons, Chicago has to again look at their roster and look at ways to improve, especially at the pass rusher position.

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Even after signing Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo to upgrade their defensive line, Chicago has questions about their pass rush, especially following the injury to second-year player Austin Booker.

With the regular season just over a week away, here’s a look at three edge rushers for the Bears to consider signing to their 53-man roster in hopes of improving the defense.

Za’Darius Smith

One of the best free agent veterans on the open market, Za’Darius Smith would be a great addition to the Bears defense who can play both on the edge or at the linebacker position. With 35 total tackles and 9.0 sacks, Smith had a productive 2024 season, but it becomes even more impressive when you realize he spent half of the season with the Cleveland Browns and the other half with the Detroit Lions. Smith would have a versatile role in Dennis Allen’s defense and could help in multiple ways.

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Preston Smith

A long-time veteran of the Green Bay Packers, Preston Smith would bring more veteran presence with 70.5 career sacks in his 11 NFL seasons. Smith has been consistently available throughout his career and split last season between the Packers and Steelers, totaling 4.5 sacks between both teams. Although he’s an older veteran, the Bears may be able to get Smith on a cheaper deal to bolster their pass rushing talent.

Shaq Barrett

If Shaq Barrett wants to play this season, the 32-year old veteran could be an under the radar signing for Chicago right before the season begins. Last season, Barrett retired before the season but then returned to the field and had a reunion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but played just a total of 17 snaps between the regular season and playoffs. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Barrett has 59 career sacks, with his last double-digit effort coming in 2021 when he totaled 10 for Tampa Bay. Similar to Preston Smith, Barrett would bring more depth and veteran presence but shouldn’t be expected to change the production in a big way.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears should consider signing one of these edge rushers