The Chicago Bears sit at 4-2. They’re right in the thick of the NFC playoff picture. One must surmise that a win in one of their next two games will compel general manager Ryan Poles to make a move at the trade deadline. His team, like most others, could really use some help at certain key positions. It looks like there will be a handful of teams willing to sell. It shouldn’t be difficult to find a deal that Chicago likes. The obvious question is, who do they pursue if they decide to pull the trigger?
Insider Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated has a solid idea on that. He ran down a list of 15 possible trade candidates for the November 10th deadline. There are some surprise names involved, like Chris Godwin, Dallas Goedert, Brian Thomas Jr., and Jerry Jeudy. However, those weren’t the ones connected to the Bears. Verderame sees two names as likely options that Poles will or already has looked into. Both are pass rushers: Josh Sweat in Arizona and Khalil Mack in Los Angeles.
The Chicago Bears are likely to seek rush help.
Josh Sweat, edge, Arizona Cardinals
For the Cardinals to trade Sweat less than two seasons into his four-year deal, they would likely need significant draft capital. That might be tough for a team to give up, considering he’s getting paid a prorated figure of $9.7 million before $17 million each of the next two years, albeit nonguaranteed. Last year, Sweat notched 12 sacks but is off to a slow start this season with two sacks in six games.
Potential fits: Bears
Khalil Mack, edge, Los Angeles Chargers
It’s not every day you can acquire a player with more than 110 career sacks. Yet barring something bizarre, Mack will be dealt at or before the deadline with the Chargers entering fire-sale territory. This season, Mack has three sacks and is on pace for his best campaign since 2023, when he totaled a career-high 17. Any contender looking for a jolt in their pass rush could target Mack and likely give up no more than a mid-round pick.
Potential fits: 49ers, Bears
Sweat and Mack fit what the Bears need.
Right now, their edge rusher situation is dubious. Montez Sweat is serving a suspension. Dayo Odeyingbo is on Injured Reserve with a quad issue. Austin Booker is their only proven option left. The team was fortunate that Daniel Hardy, a special team ace, played so well in Atlanta. That luck is unlikely to hold in the coming weeks. If you want to win games against the best, you need guys who can win those 1-on-1 matchups on the outside. Sweat and Mack have both shown they can do that at a high level.
Going by recent production, Mack feels like the safer bet. Though 35 years old, he has 16 pressures and 3 sacks this season. He’s still an active threat that opponents can’t ignore. Sweat has 10 pressures so far, but his big advantage is being 6 years younger than Mack. You’d like to think he still has some gas left in the tank. Plus, you have two more years left of control on his contract after 2026. That would be a decent long-term solution, provided the Chicago Bears can get him back on track.
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The price tag seems pretty straightforward.
Most believe Mack would fetch somewhere in the vicinity of a 5th round pick. Remember, Joe Thuney cost a 4th and he was a few years younger than him. Is that worth what would probably be half a season of work? That depends on how close the Bears think they are to competing for a championship. He can absolutely help them, but dumping a 5th rounder for a quick fix is always risky. That is why some may prefer to try for Sweat instead. He’d at least give the Bears more of a window.
If they can bring back the 2025 version, this would be an excellent addition. Both Sweats, Booker, and Odeyingbo would give Dennis Allen one of the deepest rotations he’s had in years. To say nothing of the vast playoff experience Sweat would bring. However, young players usually cost more. Best estimate is a 3rd round pick is what it will take. Would Poles consider that? That may depend on how much Allen likes the idea.
