Going into the 2025 NFL offseason, the Chicago Bears are off to begin, hiring Ben Johnson as their head coach, adopted by the development of a star-studded solid. Nonetheless, whereas the Bears make their Avengers solid of coaches, roster strikes — together with cuts — will probably be made. And whereas some cuts are extra apparent than others, the Bears could possibly be saying goodbye to an edge rusher within the 2025 NFL offseason.
As a second-round decide within the 2017 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, edge rusher DeMarcus Walker has moved round fairly a bit.
After 4 seasons with the Broncos, Walker signed with the Houston Texans in 2021, spending only one yr with them.
Walker began simply two video games for the Texans, searching for free company once more in 2022 and touchdown with the Tennessee Titans.
In 2022, Walker began simply six video games, however he’d have the best yr of his NFL profession up to now, ending the season with seven sacks.
Then, in 2023, the Bears signed Walker, who began 12 video games in his first season with the staff and all 17 video games the next yr.
Nonetheless, with simply seven sacks in these two seasons mixed, it could possibly be time for the Bears to maneuver on from him, particularly given the overhauled teaching employees.
Normally, when a brand new teaching employees takes over, the roster is overhauled, too.
And with the Bears’ roster, just a few gamers may find yourself testing free company in 2025, together with Walker.
All through his time with the Bears, he hasn’t been overly productive as an edge rusher.
2022: 12 begins, 30 tackles (17 solo, 13 help), 16 QB hits, 9 TFLs, 3.5 sacks
2023: 17 begins, 47 tackles (25 solo, 22 help), 16 QB hits, seven TFLs, 3.5 sacks
So, though he is produced at a median degree, that may not be sufficient to maintain him tied to the Johnson’s Bears.
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With gamers like Austin Booker, Dominique Robinson, Jacob Martin, and Daniel Hardy on the books till 2025 not less than, Walker could possibly be the one who Chicago lets go.
Booker is who the Bears would seemingly wish to make the bounce this offseason after getting drafted within the fifth spherical in 2024 and being seen as a serious sleeper on this protection.
Nonetheless, Walker stayed firmly above him on the Bears’ depth chart, giving him fewer alternatives to develop.
Now, with a whole offseason with out Walker in entrance of him — if the Bears reduce him — Booker may take the following step as an NFL edge rusher.
One other approach the Bears may substitute Walker is inside the 2025 NFL Draft.
There is a close to 0% probability that Chicago may get Abdul Carter with the No. 10 decide, but when they really feel so inclined to commerce up for him, he could be a direct improve as one of many high prospects within the draft.
Together with Carter, there are different edge rushers within the 2025 NFL Draft who the Bears may draft, like Mike Inexperienced (Marshall), Mykel Williams (Georgia), and Princeley Umanmielen (Ole Miss) to call just a few.
Chopping Walker could be transfer for the Bears as a result of it saves Chicago $5.3 million in cap house, giving them much more cash to signal free brokers in 2025.
So, though the Bears haven’t got a super defensive entrance heading into 2025, shifting on from Walker could possibly be a transfer that helps Chicago long-term on the edge rusher place.