Something to keep in mind about the NFL is the market remains fluid. What feels like a clear picture one day can drastically shift the next. The Chicago Bears sit four days away from the start of the legal tampering period of free agency. Everybody expects them to seek out help on the market. The only question is where. Rumors persist they could go after one of the top running backs available, as well as some help at wide receiver. However, one position that might get serious attention is the edge rushers.
Locking up Montez Sweat was a massive win for GM Ryan Poles last year. He will be a fixture on the Bears’ defensive line for the next few years. That said, good defenses always need at least two capable rushers to function at a high level. The Bears don’t have that yet. This is why rumors persist, and they could be active in that market if the right deal comes along. Luckily for them, events elsewhere might be lending a hand. According to multiple insiders, the Philadelphia Eagles are now shopping both of their top edge rushers, Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat.
This helps the Chicago Bears in one of two ways.
The first and most obvious is it gives them two potential targets on the trade market. Reddick (29) and Sweat (26) are both proven rushers with plenty of gas left in the tank. Either would be an instant upgrade over anything the Bears have outside of Montez. On the other hand, their availability might divert some teams away from the pending free agent market, giving the Bears a slightly better shot to land somebody capable. Among the notable names:
- Danielle Hunter
- Chase Young
- Jonathan Greenard
- Bryce Huff
- Dorance Armstrong
- A.J. Epenesa
- Josh Uche
- Marcus Davenport
Don’t forget the Chicago Bears have already swung multiple trades with Philadelphia since Poles took over in 2022. They sent Robert Quinn there for a 4th round pick and then swapped the #9 pick last year for the #10 pick and a 4th rounder. The two sides have established lines of communication. It comes down to how much the Eagles are asking for Reddick and Sweat. History says it will be a lot. If Poles doesn’t like the price, he can let somebody else pay it, taking one or two teams out of the free agent market in the process.
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