![\"Cincinnati](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/e363f394996d70e9635d9b231d116f4d.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nThe Chicago Bears have addressed essentially every team deficiency from 2024 to one degree or another, though one spot that could still get a bit more love ahead of the upcoming season is that of edge rusher.<\/p>\n
Chicago traded with the Washington Commanders for Montez Sweat a couple years back and added Dayo Odeyingbo, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, in free agency this offseason. Second-round pick Shemar Turner could definitely see some work in an edge-rushing role during his rookie campaign, and Austin Booker should also be an option after the Bears selected him in the 2024 draft as a high-upside project.<\/p>\n
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Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.Albert Cesare-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
The Bears have more than $10.5 million<\/a> in remaining salary cap space and a multitude of ways to increase that figure over the coming weeks and months if they decide to open up room for a big move on the outside of the defense.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n To that end, Terrence Jordan of FanSided suggested Chicago make a move to acquire defensive end Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL’s reigning sack leader, Hendrickson is owed $21 million<\/a> in his age-31 campaign and has a market value of approximately $63 million<\/a> total over a new two-year deal.<\/p>\n “Hendrickson is a stud that would be the best Bears pass rusher since Khalil Mack,” Jordan wrote on Thursday, May 1<\/a>. “It won’t be cheap to get him, which is likely why he wasn’t dealt when he first was given permission to seek a trade. But as long as the price isn’t too exorbitant, [Bears GM] Poles should figure out a way to get it done.”<\/p>\n The Bengals are reportedly considering the release\u00a0of Germaine Pratt and Cordell Volson, which would free upwards of $9 million in cap space and could allow Cincinnati to bring Hendrickson back into the fold on a long-term deal, which is the only contract paradigm likely to keep the star pass rusher in a Bengals uniform beyond 2025.<\/p>\n