As the Chicago Bears gear up for the offseason, there are a lot of questions the team needs to answer. And one major question is how the Bears will address the issues on the defensive line.
Chicago ranked dead last in the NFL in pass-rush win rate at just 29% according to ESPN statistics, and ranked in the bottom half of the league in total sacks with just 35 this past season. The inability to get to the quarterback has been evident, and it’s the first offseason in a long time where fans are begging the team to focus on adding talent on defense, not offense.
That said, bringing in a premier pass rusher is extremely enticing, and Pro Football Focus believes the Bears would be the best landing spot for a premier pass rusher in Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson. But would he be the answer Chicago is looking for?
PFF Tabs Bears As Top Landing Spot for Trey Hendrickson
It makes sense, linking Hendrickson as an option, considering he had ties with Dennis Allen, who was the defensive coordinator for the Saints when Hendrickson was on the team. PFF writer Mason Cameron added more insight on why he could be a good fit in Chicago.
“While the Bears found success with Montez Sweat, their edge pass-rush rotation was otherwise limited, as no other edge rusher with at least 100 pass-rush snaps posted a pass-rush win rate above 10%. Ultimately, Chicago finished just 29th in pressure rate (31.1%) during the regular season, highlighting the need for a game-breaking presence off the edge. Reuniting Hendrickson with his former defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, makes sense.
Despite an injury-shortened 2025 campaign, Hendrickson profiles as one of the most impressive pass rushers on the market this offseason. Across the past three seasons, he ranks in the top five at his position in PFF pass-rush grade on true pass sets (92.5) and stands as one of just six edge rushers with a pass-rush win rate above 20%.”
On the surface, it seems like a no-brainer decision for the Bears to go after Hendrickson. But there’s more than meets the eye.
Why the Bears Shouldn’t Go After Hendrickson in Free Agency
GettyTrey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals.
For one, his age. Hendrickson is 31 years old and likely has his best years behind him. If that’s not enough, he missed 10 games because of a serious core injury that required surgery. And according to ESPN’s statistics, Hendrickson didn’t make the list of the top 20 edge rushers with the highest pass-rush win rate.
The Bears are also dealing with their own problems. Chicago has a projected negative $4 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.com, with one pass rusher (Montez Sweat) having a $25.085 million cap hit, and another pass rusher, Dayo Odeyingbo, owed a huge $20.5 million sum in 2026.
Hendrickson is a great player, and the concern isn’t about his ability on the field. It’s other factors like injury, age, and financials that the Bears have to keep in mind.
Bears Should Be Cautious With Latest Trey Hendrickson Link