After the Bears decided not to sign four-time All-Pro Matthew Judon, who may only be slated for the 2024 season, they pounced on loan edge rusher Darrell Taylor on Friday.

Walker, 27, is from Seattle and costs a sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft. He has a salary cap hit of $3.136 million and can be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Both the reward and the risk are lower than a potential Judon trade, allowing Bears general manager Ryan Poles to sign a key player for this season without complicating the long-term situation.

Poles was caught on Hard Knocks saying he was “agonizing” over the decision to only sign Judon from the Patriots if he agreed to a contract extension. Atlanta subsequently completed the trade, sending New England a third-round pick without tying Judon beyond 2024.

Taylor thrived as a pass rush specialist but was viewed as expendable by the Seahawks, who signed him to only a one-year extension after his rookie contract expired and traded him on Friday rather than potentially release him.

Poles had three sixth-round picks the next year, making it easier to get one for Taylor. He built a young core in his three drafts in Chicago, leaving him with less of a need for depth than he felt when he arrived.

Taylor’s best season was 2022, when he recorded 9 1/2 sacks. He has 21 1/2 sacks in three seasons despite starting only 13 games. The University of Tennessee product was a second-round pick in 2020 but spent the entire season on Seattle’s practice squad.

Pro Football Focus rated Taylor 103rd among 112 qualified edge defenders last season. His pass rush rating of 58.7 ranked 85th.

The Bears’ ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks has improved significantly since Poles signed Montez Sweat last season. Poles must be pleased with the defense in the preseason, as they recorded 12 sacks and allowed just two.

DeMarcus Walker, who signed a three-year, $21 million deal ahead of 2023, and the Bears’ most likely starters are on the line. Taylor and rookie Austin Booker are expected to play major roles in the rotation, while Dominique Robinson, a fifth-round pick in 2022, and undrafted Daniel Hardy are on the line as Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus build the 53-man roster.

Because Walker’s contract only includes a dead cap hit of $666,668 in 2025, the Bears have a choice between Walker and Taylor after this season, a much different situation than if Judon had become a free agent.

While Judon would have been a nice addition this season, Poles actually limited his budget at the position when he committed $98 million to Sweat. It’s much easier to sign a veteran like Taylor than a player at Judon’s level.