Ryan Poles Being Urged To Bring In An Old Friend

The Chicago Bears likely aren’t done tweaking their roster between now and the start of the season. GM Ryan Poles is always known for working the margins, trying to find ways to improve team depth. Most people have stayed focused on the running back position since the end of the draft. Understandably so. The only notable addition they made was 7th round pick Kyle Monangai. It feels like they could do more to supplement that area. However, others think Poles could look elsewhere.

That would be an edge rusher. While the Bears did sign Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency, most feel not enough was done to help ease the pressure on Montez Sweat to prove heat off the edge. Fans are clamoring for Poles to make the aggressive move to trade for star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. That would be an instant upgrade, but also extremely expensive. Moe Moton of Bleacher Report believes Poles will take a more reasonable approach by grabbing an old friend.

Chicago Bears: Sign EDGE Tanoh Kpassagnon

The Bears signed Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million contract. He’ll line up opposite Montez Sweat on the edge. Austin Booker has a chance to take on the third-most snaps at defensive end, but he’s unproven, going into his second term after playing 27 percent of Chicago’s defensive snaps last year.

While with the New Orleans Saints, Kpassagnon played in Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense between 2021 and 2024. He would provide quality depth as a plug-and-play rotational end.

Ryan Poles would likely do this at the behest of Dennis Allen.

Tanoh Kpassagnon was a 2nd round pick for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017. He developed into a part-time starter and mostly rotational defensive lineman who provided occasional juice for their pass rush. His run defense was also decent. His best season came in 2019 when he delivered 40 pressures and four sacks while helping the Chiefs win the Super Bowl. Two years later, he left to join the New Orleans Saints, where he played under Allen for four seasons. He had another good year in 2023, posting 34 pressures in just 294 pass rush snaps. However, injuries knocked him out for most of last season.

Kpassagnon turned 31 next month. He isn’t likely to be a starter anymore. Still, if he’s healthy, he can be a dependable backup. His mix of size, length, and power is what attracted Allen to him in the first place. Ryan Poles helped draft him eight years ago. A reunion could make sense if the Bears don’t find any alternatives.