Malik Fisher? Why The Bears Could Pounce On The Rising UFL Pass Rusher
The United Football League might not get the same ravenous attention as the NFL, but it has its fans. It has also been serving a great purpose. With only so many roster spots available in the NFL, it has become a great way for many young football players to keep playing. As a result, it’s become somewhat of a feeder league for those who wish to keep honing their craft and earn another shot at the big time. One of those names is Malik Fisher. Don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard the name.
The 27-year-old was an undrafted free agent out of Villanova in 2022. He was a productive player during his college career, at one point having 12.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for a loss, and six forced fumbles between 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, COVID derailed his ascent in 2020, limiting his season to only four games. His 2021 season was okay, but not on the same level, which led to his failure to get drafted. That is what led him to the XFL in 2023, where he became a developmental prospect.
The next year, he had seven sacks in 10 games for the DC Defenders. That earned him a training camp invite from the Houston Texans, where he played well enough to earn a spot on their practice squad. Sadly, Houston’s stacked roster made upward movement impossible. So he returned to the UFL. This year, now with the Houston Gamblers, he has 4.5 sacks in six games.
Malik Fisher is a textbook low-risk-high-reward move for the Bears.
We know the Chicago Bears weren’t able to make any significant moves at edge rusher this offseason. Free agents were too expensive, and the draft never really fell their way. In the absence of finding a true difference-maker, the best thing general manager Ryan Poles can do is build depth and competition. Fisher has all the traits Chicago looks for. He is 6’4″ and 265 lbs, so he reaches the threshold of size that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wants. He’s a good athlete, showing upfield burst and enough strength to challenge tackles.
By the look of things, his evolution as a rusher is ongoing. Fisher demonstrates an expanding array of moves that create pressure. This feels like somebody who deserves another opportunity to crack an NFL roster. Unlike in Houston, the Chicago Bears have plenty of room to open that door. Shemar Turner and Dayo Odeyingbo remain injured. Dominique Robinson departed in free agency. They need more depth. Fisher fits their profile and would be plenty cheap to acquire once his UFL season concludes.
The Bears depth situation isn’t talked about enough.
Turner and Odeyingbo aren’t due back for some time, especially the latter. Montez Sweat and Austin Booker are the starters, but behind them, the situation gets way more uncertain. Daniel Hardy is a pure special teams presence. Jonathan Garvin is a career backup without much to offer. Jamree Kromah is a former undrafted free agent. The Bears don’t really have anyone who can be considered trustworthy if another injury hits. Now, this could mean they plan to add another veteran to the mix, like a Cameron Jordan or Jadeveon Clowney.
However, every indication to this point is that they want to see this group together healthy. In such a case, the more likely scenario is that they add a cheap option to the mix as competition. Malik Fisher would fit that role perfectly. He’s still on the younger side, won’t cost much, and has gained considerable experience in actual games over the past couple of years. Rather than add another recycled name on his fifth team, maybe the Bears should take a calculated risk on somebody hungry for the chance.