Before the Chicago Bears played the Baltimore Ravens, NFL insider Jordan Schultz mentioned how if the Bears won and improved their record to 5-2, they could be “very aggressive at the trade deadline.”
Well, the Bears lost 30-16 and are now 4-3.
This year’s NFL trade deadline is November 4th, and the Bears are stuck at a crossroads; will they be sellers, buyers, or a little bit of both?
Bears’ Gameplan for the NFL Trade Deadline
GettyThe Chicago Bears need more help in the secondary.
The Bears travel to Cincinnati to take on the 3-5 Bengals before the trade deadline, but will the outcome of this game sway the team to be buyers or sellers? Probably not. However, it’ll be interesting to see how the Bears approach the trade deadline.
With a first-year head coach and a general manager fresh off a contract extension, there shouldn’t be a sense of urgency to go after big-name players like how Ryan Poles went after Montez Sweat when he was on the hot seat back in 2023.
However, the Bears are down their top four corners, with Jaylon Johnson, Terell Smith, and Kyler Gordon all on IR, and Tyrique Stevenson missing his first game of the season vs. the Ravens with a shoulder injury. Plus, rookie corner Zah Frazier has been out with a personal issue and hasn’t played this season.
Several teams, along with the Bears, need help on the secondary, and there’s already been a cornerback trade, with the Los Angeles Rams sending a fifth-round pick for cornerback Roger McCreary.
According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, the Ravens, Lions, and Rams (who already made one trade) are making calls for a corner. If the Bears do want help at CB, they need to make a trade A.S.A.P.
McCreary, 25, is a former second-round pick who has 33 total tackles, one sack, and one interception in eight games played with the Titans this season. The Bears should have been all over that, especially with a need at corner.
Eli Grimes of Blitz Sports Media mentioned how the Bears should look to trade for a cornerback on October 21st, and listed Rasul Douglas, Tariq Woolen, and Alontae Taylor as possible targets.
Keep an eye out for the Bears to be looking to trade for a cornerback, along with other potential positions, including running back and on the defensive line.
Could the Bears Also Be Sellers?
GettyTheo Benedet #79, Braxton Jones #70, and Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears.
The Bears had an intriguing trade candidate with offensive tackle Braxton Jones, who was recently benched in favor of Theo Benedet.
However, Jones was placed on IR with a knee injury, likely eliminating any potential leverage the Bears had in a trade. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract, and the signs point to him leaving in free agency. Now on IR, the Bears will likely see Jones leave without any draft capital in return.
Other than him, there’s a feeling the Bears won’t be interested in shopping players away. Chicago has eight players on IR (including recently added rookie DE Shemar Turner due to a torn ACL), along with multiple key players dealing with injuries, including Cole Kmet, Luther Burden III, and Stevenson.
The reality could very well be that the Bears ride out the rest of the season with what they have and see if they can overcome adversity without any outside help.
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