With the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach and Dennis Allen taking over the defense, the Chicago Bears are in the process of remaking themselves on both sides of the ball.
A few returning players may be considered too one-dimensional or redundant in Johnson’s spread-friendly offense or Allen’s intricate, speed-demanding defense. That could make them likely trade candidates—even if their talent remains undeniable. Thus, if some vets or younger players start looking like square pegs in round holes, they could find themselves on the trade block.
Money is a factor, too. Considering the team’s cap situation (they currently rank 27th out of 32 teams with $14.8 million in available cap) coupled with its roster makeup, we put together three potential trade candidates heading into the 2025 season.
Montez Sweat, DE
GettyBears Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat is one of our top trade candidates heading into 2025.
Yes, the Bears’ current pass rush rotation could still use some depth. And yes, Montez Sweat is their best defensive end. But if the Bears have a slow start to the season or other pass rushers like Austin Booker or Dayo Odeyingbo emerge and Sweat doesn’t light it up, Chicago could decide to try to trade him and look to add a lower-cost option either through the draft of trade.
After he arrived in Chicago in 2023, Sweat immediately signed a four‑year, $98 million extension. But in 2024, he finished with just 5.5 sacks across 16 games, also adding 12 TFLs and two passes defended. That’s far from elite production, and Allen will want to see more.
Over six seasons, Sweat has tallied 47 career sacks and ranks among the NFL’s elite edge rushers—he’s one of just seven players with 5+ sacks in each of the past five seasons. Yet, in Allen’s revamped defense, Sweat’s hefty cap number ($25 million/year) could make him a potential trade candidate.
Braxton Jones, LT
GettyBears left tackle Braxton Jones is another trade candidate.
Braxton Jones, a fifth‐round pick in 2022, has started 38 of 40 career games with the Bears, earning PFWA All‐Rookie honors and becoming a dependable left tackle. In 2024, he started 12 games before landing on IR with a broken ankle. Despite PFF ranking him roughly average among starting tackles, Johnson’s high‐tempo, wide‑slide protection scheme may demand more nimble edge sets than Jones currently offers.
His health will also be a factor. Jones is still recovering from ankle surgery, and second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo and second-year OL Kiran Amegadjie have been taking snaps at LT in his absence. If Trapilo beats him out, it’s possible Jones could be dangled in front of O-line needy teams as a trade chip.
Terell Smith, CB
GettyTerell Smith of the Chicago Bears.
Terell Smith, a 2023 fifth‐round cornerback out of Minnesota, has played 26 career games (six starts), amassing 61 tackles, nine pass defenses and one interception. During his 2024 campaign, Smith appeared in 14 games with two starts, recording 15 solo tackles and notching his first career pick Week 10. While his early progression shows promise, Allen’s scheme leans toward seasoned, versatile corners—meaning Smith may be a bit behind the curve.
His on-field opportunities were limited last season—he was on the field for 23% of Chicago’s defensive snaps during his 2024 campaign— but he also carved out a role on special teams. Perhaps most importantly, Smith is on his rookie contract through 2026, giving him multi-year team control—a valuable trait for any trade candidate. Meanwhile, the Bears bolstered their CBs room by drafting Zah Frazier, and if he plays well, Smith could become expendable.
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