Sitting at 4-1, the Chicago Bears can start thinking a little more aggressively in regards to their roster. Perhaps there is still a move out there worth making that could boost this team in the second half of 2020. The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching. October 29th will be the cutoff date for this season. That gives the Bears 19 days from the writing of this article to find a player out there who might be a worthwhile pursuit.
In such instances, the teams to contact are those who are already out of the playoff picture. Teams that likely have eyes looking towards 2021 and are interested in collecting future assets however possible. Often that means unloading older veterans for a draft pick in return. Obviously, the Bears don’t plan to make a blockbuster move, but are there any bargains worth venturing?
One that could make a ton of sense involves the New York Jets. At 0-4, they are arguably the worst team in the NFL and don’t figure to get much better in the next few weeks. That should make them sellers at the deadline. One name should intrigue the Bears right away is Steve McLendon.
Zach Martin and Kelemete combo block, Kelemete basically kept at bay with one arm by MIke Pennel (98). Steve McClendon (99) holds cutback lane, forces Blue outside. pic.twitter.com/eHaH8phOxI
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) December 19, 2018
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How 'bout Steve McLendon here? Another sign of great coaching is overall instinct. He feels the swim was too easy, dissects the screen, shuts it down, and Henry Anderson cleans it up. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/PYDY5Th30B
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) November 20, 2019
Glasgow gets beat terribly on this. Left foot doesn't even go forward, it goes backward. Allows Steve McLendon to cross his face and rip through and ride it out to the backfield. Glasgow doesn't even punch or create separation. He's blocking w/his forearm. Like what are we doing? pic.twitter.com/UxyJGsvSon
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) September 13, 2018
McLendon would help Chicago Bears run defense
There was no bigger loss for the Bears going into this season than Eddie Goldman. Things instantly became harder for the entire defense when their star nose tackle chose to opt-out over COVID-19 concerns. Since then they’ve tried to make do with a committee approach in the middle. It hasn’t gone too well. Chicago ranks a distant 16th in run defense this season. Not ideal given the schedule they have coming up.
This is where McLendon comes in.
Only two pairs of interior defensive linemen charted 80.0+ run defense grades in 2019:
-Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers (LAR)
-Steve McLendon and Folorunso Fatukasi (NYJ)#Jets #TakeFlight— PFF NY Jets (@PFF_Jets) May 28, 2020
He’s been a fixture in the middle of the Jets defense for a few years now. Not to mention a team captain. Though 34-years old, he’s proven time and again to be a steady, dependable presence on the interior. Somebody who will anchor well at the point of attack and even provide the occasional nice pass rush rep.
With the Jets approaching a rebuild, it doesn’t make much sense for him to stay. McLendon would almost certainly welcome a move to a winning team like Chicago. Getting him also wouldn’t be expensive given his age.