The Chicago Bears are 2-3. While not going in the right direction lately, there is no reason for them to panic yet. Plenty of time remains for them to get back on track. A win over Washington on Thursday Night Football would be just the ticket. Of course, a loss could send them into an early death spiral, with New England and Dallas following close behind. If that happens, then it is hard to predict what might come next.
The NFL trade deadline is November 1st. Some wonder if GM Ryan Poles might try to find a sneaky deal to help the Bears’ offense. Albert Breer of the MMQB doesn’t see that happening. Based on what he’s heard, it is far more likely Poles will use the deadline to scoop up more draft capital if possible. Several veteran players on the roster could get shipped out if the team isn’t performing. Three key names were mentioned.
“The Bears are another team I’d watch, just based on it being the first year for a new group, and the way I think GM Ryan Poles, whose background is in college scouting, will value draft picks. Robert Quinn would be the most obvious name—an older guy who won’t be around long term who’s got gas left in the tank and plays a premium position. Eddie Jackson would be another I think teams would call on. And because of his contract status, Roquan Smith seems to be another name to watch.”
The Chicago Bears have never done a midseason firesale.
So it would be quite an event if Poles broke that trend. He’s no stranger to the idea. Scott Pioli, the man who hired him in Kansas City, did it multiple times between 2009 and 2012. Brett Veach also engineered multiple such deals in 2020 and 2021. If worthwhile deals are to be made, Poles won’t have any qualms about making them. As always, it comes down to how strong the market is for the available players.
Right now, the two with the highest value are Smith and Jackson. Smith is in his prime and on track for 183 tackles this season. There are likely multiple teams intrigued by adding a speedy linebacker like him. Jackson, meanwhile, has three interceptions in five games and appears to be in the middle of a career renaissance.
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Quinn may still have a market because pass rushers usually do. He did have 18 sacks last year, and he remains healthy despite his slow start. It isn’t a stretch to think that trio could fetch the Bears 3-4 solid picks for next year, all while clearing tons of salary cap space off the books.
