Most people seem to understand what the Chicago Bears trade deadline strategy will be. If they plan to make a move, it will likely be an aggressive play for another player who can help them win this year. It makes sense. They have a good roster and are right in the thick of the NFC North race. It feels like they could be one or two pieces away from getting to the postseason. However, there’s a problem with that strategy.
The Bears aren’t really in a position to make another bold move. They don’t have a high draft choice in 2019 to give in a deal. They traded their 2019 first rounder to Oakland in the Khalil Mack trade and their second rounder to New England for Anthony Miller. While those appear to have been good deals, it leaves the Bears without much flexibility for the deadline.
That is unless they alter their strategy. While they may not have any high picks, perhaps it’s time for them to think about stockpiling mid and late round selections. There are a couple moves that could help with that endeavor and also a method to doing so.
Chicago Bears recent history with later picks makes this strategy favorable
To understand that strategy, one must understand the man in charge. GM Ryan Pace didn’t get off to the best start in Chicago. His first two top picks in 2015 (Kevin White) and 2016 (Leonard Floyd) are looking like busts given their rampant injury and inconsistency problems. He seems to have improved lately with Mitch Trubisky and Roquan Smith playing well.
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One thing he’s been good at from the start though? That’s finding talent in the later rounds. Pace has acquired at least one impactful player in the fourth round or lower since he took over three years ago.
- 2015 – Adrian Amos (5th round)
- 2016 – Jordan Howard (5th round)
- 2017 – Eddie Jackson (4th round)
- 2017 – Tarik Cohen (4th round)
- 2018 – Bilal Nichols (5th round)
I've been taking note the last few weeks on #Bears rookie 5th round DT Bilal Nichols who has continuously jumped off the screen when I've been studying opposing OLs. Not only big, strong, and athletic, but diagnoses really well so early in his career. CHI can scout IDL: pic.twitter.com/y4lIFB2kYt
— Brandon Thorn (@VeteranScout) October 23, 2018
That’s some really good talent found in low places. Nichols is the latest revelation. Despite limited opportunities, he already has a sack and three tackles for loss. For a kid practically nobody knew about coming from Delaware? That speaks to the incredible job done by Pace, the front office and the scouting department. It also reinforces the idea of finding a way to secure a couple more picks in that area of the draft.
Bears may have a way to snag a couple more picks
As of now, the Bears have their 3rd, 4th, and 5th rounders in 2019. That’s good. The problem is they don’t have much else. They gave up their 6th rounder to Oakland in the Mack deal as well. They have their 7th rounder and may have another from Philadelphia depending on if the conditions of the Deiondre Hall trade are met. That’s at most five picks.
So is there a way they could snag at least one more 4th or 5th rounder? Yes, but it depends on what they’re willing to sacrifice. As of now, there are four players on the roster who could likely snag a pick between the 4th and 6th rounds. They are as follows:
- Jordan Howard
- Leonard Floyd
- Nick Kwiatkoski
- Dion Sims
At first glance, it’s difficult to consider the idea of losing any of those guys. Well, maybe not Sims but the other three are tough. Howard is still the primary running back for the Bears who had two-straight seasons over 1,000 yards. Yet it’s impossible to ignore how he’s struggled to find any sort of groove in the new offensive system under Matt Nagy.
You want to run in this league? You want to go to the playoffs? This kind of dog sh🍦t effort isn’t gonna get it done by both Sowell & Dion Sims @BearsHourLive @chitownbuster @JoeMandel @RyanBadgley40 pic.twitter.com/GeNCtzv7kt
— Draft Dr. Phil (@FulphilO) October 24, 2018
Floyd is a shell of the player he was the past two years. He has no sacks in six games to date and the argument that he’s improved as a run defender is falling on deaf ears. Maybe he’s just not meshing with the Vic Fangio system as much as hoped. Still, he’s a great athlete and 26-years old. Another team might see value in taking a risk on him.
Kwiatkoski? He’s been a steady and reliable backup linebacker and has really blossomed on special teams this year. With Joel Iyiegbuniwe waiting in the wings, the Bears might see a benefit to shipping him off for some draft help next year, having gotten probably all they’ll ever get from his skill set.
It’s not a guaranteed strategy, but it would be far more interesting if the Bears went into next year with three or four mid round picks to spend.
