Beating the Washington Commanders was pure relief for the Chicago Bears. However, one thing remains impossible to deny. They are still one of the worst teams in the league. They’re 1-4. That puts GM Ryan Poles in an interesting situation. If the struggles continue over the next three weeks, there is a strong possibility the Bears will be sellers at the trade deadline on October 31st. Maybe that will change if they put together a winning streak to reach 4-4. As things stand, it sounds like GM Ryan Poles is preparing for any scenario.
Courtney Cronin of ESPN appeared on The Chicago Bears Podcast to discuss the current situation. When the topic of the trade deadline came up, she dropped an interesting nugget. She has it on good authority that the Bears have been gauging interest on the market in veteran defensive backs Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson.
This approach shouldn’t be a surprise. Johnson will be a free agent in 2024. The Bears likely stand to lose him for nothing if he walks, and the odds of him landing a contract extension look dicey. Trading him to a cornerback-needy team makes sense. As for Jackson, he’s in his 30s now. His contract is nearing an end. Unloading him now while teams still remember his four interceptions last season makes sense.
Everything hinges on the Chicago Bears’ next three games.
Last season, they were 3-4 going into the game against Dallas on October 30th. A loss there dropped them to 3-5. Within the next 24 hours, both Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith were traded. If a similar scenario unfolds this time, one should expect Poles to do the same. He’s never afraid to wheel and deal, especially if it means stockpiling future draft capital. Chicago plays Minnesota, Las Vegas, and the Chargers over the next three weeks. Those first two are winnable games. If they reach 3-4, that game in Los Angeles may decide whether Jackson and Johnson remain Bears for the rest of the season.
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It would help if both players actually play. Both have been sidelined with injuries for the past few weeks. Johnson indicated he plans to return against Minnesota on Sunday. So that’s one question answered. Jackson is more of an unknown. The initial belief is he will likely return as well, but it’s not definitive. If both return and manage to play well, that would help the Chicago Bears’ trade prospects should things remain ugly in the win column.
