After landing Drew Dalman at center, the Chicago Bears decided it was finally time to help out Dennis Allen on the defensive side. GM Ryan Poles demonstrated a clear understanding of what types of players the new defensive coordinator prefers by securing ascending pass rusher Dayo Odeyingbo, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts. He accepted a three-year deal worth $48 million. The 25-year-old only had three sacks last season but had eight in 2023. He had 42 pressures and 17 quarterback hits in 2024.
It is safe to say the defensive end is starting to play some really good football. Chicago targeting him shouldn’t be a surprise. Allen has a track record of preferring bigger edge defenders with long arms and power. Odeyingbo possesses all of those traits. There is no question that a combo of him and Montez Sweat should be able to squeeze the pocket more often next season. It also doesn’t preclude the Bears from targeting more pass rush speed in the draft, of which there is plenty.
Dennis Allen and the Bears got a bargain.
Projections from experts had Odeyingbo making somewhere between $17.5-18 million per year. Chicago managed to land him for around $16 million. Not only that, but they kept it to a three-year deal. That takes him right through to the end of Caleb Williams’ rookie contract. In other words, it will free up cap space right when they need it for an extension. That is a smart maneuver by GM Ryan Poles. Now, it falls on Dennis Allen to deploy the young man to the best of his ability. If he continues the upward trajectory he showed in Indianapolis, this defense just got considerably better. The Bears might not be done. There are rumblings they may dabble in the defensive tackle and wide receiver markets too. Let the fun continue.
@TGena They might not have understood your comment. And they might be too giddy to be all that harsh. Note that even Hate was trying to make up with me. My low ball is 23.
@Dr. Steven Sallie —
You, Dr. Stephano, clearly reside in the sumptuous manor houses that exist in each of our pauper friends’ grandiose delulsions.
It is only fair that the primary cause of envy on Erik Lambert’s Sports Mockery is allowed his prefernce.
[Please provide an estimate of the total number of downvotes this post ultimately earns.]
Cheers!
Nurse Sally is 8 miles high must be some good drugs he is taking
Keep meowing little pussy cat
Dayo played across the entire front four and reaked havoc from each position. Just like Gator Joe said, sacks are padded stats. Pressures, hits and disruption is higher graded stats for the entire defensive unit.
If he is supposedly ascending, then I’m already Eight Miles High. This is just a hope that he is going to become better than Robinson, but for a lot of money for youthful potential with the necessary physical characteristics. He certainly did not outperform Mack last season, if any season, controlling for injury.