The Chicago Bears haven’t been aggressive at the trade deadline for the past two years. Not since acquiring Montez Sweat in 2023 has general manager Ryan Poles taken a big swing. He has instead opted for smaller deals to help improve the team on the margins. People are waiting to see what happens a few weeks from now. The Bears are 3-2 and in the thick of the NFC playoff race. A crucial stretch of their schedule is coming up and could make or break that. If they can maintain their winning record, it stands to reason they will look for more help before the deadline, right?
Bleacher Report indicated that the Bears are expected to be one of the most aggressive teams on the market. This stems from their pressing need to bolster a weakened defense.
“The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-2 and chasing the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. While Caleb Williams’ hamstring injury played a role in both losses, a suspect defense hasn’t helped.
The Bears’ defense has looked respectable at times, but it ranks 22nd in yards per carry allowed and 30th in net yards per pass attempt allowed. Don’t be surprised if general manager Ryan Poles looks to bolster the defensive front and the pass rush in the coming weeks.
Chicago’s defense has produced 12 sacks, but it also just lost Montez Sweat to a two-game suspension for a violation of the league’s PED policy.”
This follows the line of thinking that many covering the Bears have speculated since the season began. If any moves were made around the deadline, they would be on the defensive side. The only uncertainty at this point is which position they decide to target if and when that happens.
The Chicago Bears suddenly have a tough decision.
For weeks, the assumption from everybody was that any move they made would be on the defensive line. Most likely, it’d be an edge rusher of some kind. That is why you’ve recently heard rumors linking them to Khalil Mack. However, things have become more complicated. The loss in Green Bay last week exposed serious issues in the secondary, particularly at cornerback. Jaylon Johnson has looked like a shell of the player he was in 2023 and 2024. Kyler Gordon still hasn’t returned, and Tyrique Stevenson is battling a hamstring problem.
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Knowing defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and how he thinks, it’s possible the Chicago Bears may prioritize finding cornerback help rather than another pass rusher. His defense requires solid coverage on the back end to function properly. Johnson’s decline has really left the team in a tough spot. Maybe a prominent name will be available if the edge rusher market gets too hot. Answers to these questions aren’t likely to arrive for another few weeks. The Bears aren’t yet in a spot where they’re confident in which direction they’re heading.
A win in Atlanta might change that.
It would give them another win over a key NFC wild card threat and some cushion for the brutal two-game stretch against the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. If they can reach 5-3, that pretty much gives them the green light to make a move. Poles is likely already working the phones, gauging who may or may not be available. Much depends on which teams conclude that their current season is a wash and that it’s time to start preparing for 2027.
This is one area Poles has excelled. He typically has a pretty good feel for which teams are selling. That is how he landed Sweat in 2023 and Joe Thuney in 2025. It is all about timing. There is no shortage of struggling teams as the deadline approaches. The key is differentiating between those committed to a rebuild and those who likely think it’s just a bad season and that they need to freshen things up for next year.
