The Chicago Bears are 3-2. If they can maintain this momentum for a couple more weeks, there is a realistic chance they could be buyers at the November 5th trade deadline. GM Ryan Poles has shown aggressiveness this time of year over the past two seasons. He traded a 2nd round pick in 2022 for Chase Claypool and a 2nd round pick in 2023 for Montez Sweat. Chicago has two 2nd round picks in 2025. It isn’t hard to connect the dots about the possibility of another move. Poles never minds thinking big, too. Enter Quenton Nelson.
Most fans should know the name. He is one of the two or three best guards in the league. A six-time Pro Bowler, he has anchored the Indianapolis Colts offensive line since 2018. Chicago has significant issues at both guard positions. Teven Jenkins can’t stay healthy. Nate Davis was already benched. Adding somebody like Nelson would be an instant upgrade. Kyle Brandt of NFL Network believes the possibility is out there, and the Bears should utilize their ammunition to go after him.
Quenton Nelson is a fun idea but unlikely.
There are a few reasons to think this won’t happen. For one, the Colts aren’t exactly crashing and burning. They’re 2-3. While that isn’t great, it is hardly a cause for them to start thinking about selling off players. Nelson is also 28 years old. He is squarely in his prime. Unloading players of his caliber while at their peak, especially with two years left on his contract, is exceedingly rare. Last but not least, Chris Ballard remains the GM of that organization. In that time, he has never traded a player of Nelson’s caliber. The biggest ones he unloaded were Carson Wentz and Rock Ya-Sin, and both weren’t any good when they happened. It isn’t in Ballard’s DNA to do that. Not with a young quarterback like Anthony Richardson needing all the protection he can get.
Make no mistake. Quenton Nelson would be an outstanding addition to the Bears’ roster. If there is even a slim chance he could be available, Poles should burn the phone lines trying to make a deal. The reality is every sign points to that not happening.
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Erik, I disagree with Ronzi2 – nice article. You looked at the rumor, analyzed it, decided it was highly unlikely, and said so. Well done.
Well Eric this piece of nonsense is at least 1 article closer to making your quota.
Ballard knows thar acquiring a GM’s job is not likely to happen especially after making stupid trades like this one would.