Trade! Chicago Bears Acquire Seattle Seahawks Linebacker Darrell Taylor

The Chicago Bears are adding some pass-rushing juice to their defense. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Bears have acquired linebacker and edge rusher Darrell Taylor for a 2025 sixth-round pick.

Trade! The #Seahawks are sending LB Darrell Taylor to the #Bears for a 2025 sixth-round pick, per source. pic.twitter.com/eCKZ6bb71G
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 23, 2024

Taylor was the Seahawk's 48th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has served primarily as a rotational pass rusher, never exceeding 543 defensive snaps in any season, but he has proven productive in that role. He peaked in 2022, his sophomore season, notching 9.5 sacks.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Taylor never quite rounded out his skillset. He has yet to exceed a 58.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in any season of his career, and the Seahawks have generally considered him a backup option. Of his 49 appearances as a pro, only 13 were as a starter. Parting ways with him now, the final year of his rookie deal, indicates they had no intention of re-signing him at the end of the season

Taylor never emerged as a consistent starter for the Seahawks, and it's unlikely the Bears see him as one, either. Still, given the degree to which they've invested in their offense this offseason, the Bears are banking on a lot of high-scoring games in their future. That will necessitate a fiercer pass rush. The Bears finished with 30 sacks last season, the second-fewest in the league. Taylor isn't a game-changer, but he's a step in the right direction.