Thread: Bears Trying to Extend Okoye

Bears looking to extend DT Okoye

The Bears have explored a multi-year contract extension for defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, something the former No. 10-overall pick of the Houston Texans would like very much to see come to pass.

“I would love to come back as a Bear, love to,” Okoye told CSNChicago.com. “We have talked so we’ll see where it goes. But I would love to be here.”

Coming strictly off the bench this season, Okoye has posted 4 sacks, second-highest total for his career after the 5.5 he had as a rookie in 2007 and tied for ninth in the NFL among defensive tackles.

“We are very pleased with Amobi, very pleased,” coach Lovie Smith said.

Okoye, who signed a one-year contract on July 30, the same day he was released by the Texans, has been used almost exclusively in a rotation with Henry Melton as the under-tackle. The mission statement is explicit: generate inside pass rush in a lynchpin position of the Smith/Rod Marinelli scheme.

With Melton’s 7 sacks, the Bears have their biggest sack total by two defensive tackles during the Smith era. The previous full-season high had been 9 by Tommie Harris (8) and Darwin Walker (1) in 2007.

Rookie Stephen Paea’s 3 give the Bears 14 combined from the defensive tackle position.

Okoye also has been credited with 24 quarterback-pressures, behind only Julius Peppers (49), Israel Idonije (33) and Melton (31), all starters.

“He’s a young player who’s just been getting better and better, taking coaching,” Marinelli said. “I like what he’s going.”

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Bears looking to extend DT Okoye