If you asked Chicago Bears fans going into Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers what the priority should be ahead of the trade deadline, they’d have said a cornerback or an edge rusher. More likely the former. Inconsistency on the back end of the defense has left the team vulnerable despite their massive upgrade at defensive tackle with Jeffery Simmons. However, after watching the game unfold, some feel the priorities have shifted. Helping the defense more would be nice, but is it possible the offense could use it more?
Adam Hoge of CHGO touched on it after the game. In his mind, the Bears must be starting to worry about their running game. Tampa Bay held them to just 3.5 yards per carry. It wasn’t much better last week in Seattle. Part of the issue has been the loss of tight end Cole Kmet. He was such a vital component of the team’s rushing attack. With him gone, rookie Sam Roush has done his best to fill the void, but it hasn’t been good enough. Perhaps the Bears could look into trading for help.
There are some options out there for the Chicago Bears to consider.
Trading for a blocking tight end may sound like a weak idea, but for a team like this, it matters a lot. Kmet was a vital component of their identity. Granted, the absence of Kyle Monangai in the backfield hasn’t helped either, but it starts up front. Roush may get there in the future, but he’s a rookie. He was always going to need time. The obvious question is: who do the Chicago Bears target for help? As we all know, it’s not just about finding a credible player. He must play for a team that might be interested in selling. After doing some research, three names popped up.
Probably the most intriguing is Charlie Woerner. The 29-year-old has quietly been a fixture for multiple excellent ground attacks, first with the San Francisco 49ers from 2020 through 2023 and then the Atlanta Falcons for the past three years. He is currently the highest-graded run-blocking tight end in the league. No doubt much of Bijan Robinson’s success traces back to him.
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Next you have Elijah Higgins. While Trey McBride gets all the love, Higgins quietly remains a stout run-blocker who helped pave the way for two top-10 units in 2023 and 2024. Lastly, you have Mitchell Evans. The fact that he has a positive run-blocking grade despite playing for Carolina, who’s been horrible running the ball, should tell you something.
Woerner might be the cheapest option.
This is for two reasons. The first is that he turns 30 years old soon. Teams are more willing to make cheaper deals for “old” players. On top of that, Woerner is a free agent next year. With Atlanta fading, it would make sense for them to get any draft compensation for him while they can. GM Ian Cunningham already worked out a trade with the Bears earlier this year for Gervon Dexter. He and Ryan Poles are good friends. It shouldn’t be difficult for them to hammer something out.
Just remember that the Bears already made their big move. What they’re trying to do now is make one that can improve the team without further depleting their limited stash of draft resources. Cornerbacks are more expensive than blocking tight ends. That is why this idea holds more credence than many realize. With 24 hours left, a lot can happen.
