The Chicago Bears have a week left before the trade deadline arrives on November 5th. GM Ryan Poles has been active at every deadline since he took over in 2022. He acquired Chase Claypool two years ago and Montez Sweat last year. Poles stated before the Washington game that he would continue making calls to find ways to help his team improve. While that wasn’t a guarantee, the GM habitually follows through on exactly what he says. That is why several Bears fans feel something is imminent.
Certain people around the league think it is possible, too. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune got in touch with the assistant GM of another franchise. He was told one important factor not being talked about would compel the Bears to make a move now. No, it isn’t a feeling they’re ready to compete for the Super Bowl. It is Caleb Williams’ contract. They control the quarterback on a relatively affordable salary for the next 4-5 years. After that, it gets way more expensive.
If the Bears are going to strike, now is the time.
“My point is they’re in Year 1 of (Williams’) rookie contract and they’ve got (Years) 2, 3 for sure, and maybe Year 4 is the extension,” the assistant GM said. “You don’t want to get into the fifth-year option (in 2028). You’ll pick it up as a fail-safe but you don’t want to get into that because that number is going to be high.
“Let’s say they have him play three years and then really use all of their leash, have him play Year 4 on the rookie deal, and the extension comes along before Year 5 starts. It’s got huge cash and you prorate it out so that cap number in Year 5 is still going to be relatively low to what you see for these veteran quarterbacks, and that’s 2028 then.
“When you look at it that way, I don’t think that would disqualify them from making a trade now.”
The Chicago Bears need the right player to be available.
That is the core issue right now. Poles is open to taking a big swing, and there is no denying that. However, that is only half the issue. He won’t just throw away a high draft pick for a random scrub. The Bears will want a player who is talented and young and can help them beyond 2024. It would be another Sweat situation. Guys like that don’t become available every year. There is also the question of what position they target. Offensive line is the biggest need but top players are rarely available this time of year. Another pass rusher would be fun, but the Bears don’t seem to need one after pressuring Jayden Daniels 32 times on Sunday.
This often comes down to the teams who might be sellers. Those are ones approaching an organizational transition and want to prepare a rebuild or ones looking to unload expensive veterans for draft compensation. Looking at the landscape, the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cleveland Browns feel like teams to watch. Do any of them have that ascending young player who can be had for a 2nd or 3rd? The Chicago Bears will soon find out.
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Unless Poles can trade for HC and OC he should just lie low at the deadline. He doesn’t have a playoff team and he won’t be able to change that this season. If he’s going to make trades he should be a seller and get picks for unused assets.
If his qb doesn’t finish the season in a body cast he can breathe a sigh of relief and get on with building an OL. He may need a consultant with a track record to help with that.
Losing this week, getting mugged by another rebuilding team shows me that we’re not one player from a serious contender. No player available will change that. So lets keep our picks and hopefully land a FA or two, then see.
Also, I can’t understand all the fretting about CW’s rookie deal. Sure looks like other teams have huge QB contracts and manage ok; KC, Bills, GB now (yuck) etc. It’s more about how it’s structured and still filling around your guy.
I agree with Beardown54. While losing the way they did hurts, the Bears are still better off than teams like Jacksonville, Carolina, and New England. The arrow is pointing up for them, their rookie QB is growing and developing, and the talent level on the team has gone up every year since Poles tore down the roster. I’ve heard coaches talk about ‘learning how to win’. It has several components, training hard, respecting the game and one’s teammates, working together, developing winning habits, etc. Clearly both Stevenson and Flus have some work to do in these areas, but these are… Read more »
I’m not sure why they would be the laughingstock. They are 4-3 with a better-than-average roster, draft capital, and a high-potential quarterback. Most teams envy the Bears. Take sports media for what it’s worth—they are about getting views and entertainment. 80% of them don’t even watch film and prognosticate based on highlights.
The Bears and Eberflus are a laughingstock online and in the media right now. Ask yourself if a trade for a veteran who is going to need to be paid is going to fix that? Is some team going to move a veteran, who will both A) Help right now, and B) Not need new money? If the answer is “No,” then hold onto your draft picks. I keep saying this, but your best chance to improve, right now, is by mining guys from other team’s practice squads. Yes, that will mean rostering young guys. No, your coaches won’t like… Read more »