Best and Worst Moves the Bears Made in Free Agency
Published by Andrew Dannehy on March 24, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
While a lot of fans may have been looking for Seattle‘s Michael Bennett, the Bears got a very good and versatile defensive end a bit cheaper.
With Lamarr Houston, the Bears get a player who is a beast against the run and can play anywhere along their defensive line, depending on the situation.
Houston is likely to stay at defensive end, but he could also move inside—at least on passing downs—so the Bears can continue to add the best players available going forward. He brings a rare combination of strength and athleticism that makes him a nearly ideal starting point for the Bears rebuilding process.
Known mostly for his run defense, Houston is an underrated pass-rusher. His sack numbers aren’t huge, but he ranked 19th in pass-rush productivity at Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He managed to pressure the quarterback 63 times in 2013, 23 more than did Julius Pepper.
Houston won’t turn 27 until June so his best years should still be ahead of him…and in a Bears uniform.
