The Chicago Bears certainly sent a message with their opening day victory over the Carolina Panthers. Putting up 59 points against a team that was in the playoffs last season is hard to ignore. Now they hope to keep that momentum going with a victory at home against the division rival Minnesota Vikings. Optimism is high. This team feels capable of accomplishing almost anything. It isn’t just the fans feeling that way, either. People close to the organization have informed SM that general manager Ryan Poles has picked up on similar vibes.
Up until now, Poles has kept his roster moves relatively safe. He didn’t take any huge swings in free agency or on the trade market. Part of this was out of necessity. Cap space is limited for the Bears, and they didn’t have many draft picks to throw around. However, it is now believed that Poles is prepared to take a big swing at the upcoming trade deadline if the Bears maintain their hot start over the coming weeks. The belief is they will target a “defensive difference-maker.”
Obviously, that can mean a pass rusher ala Maxx Crosby, or maybe someone to help the secondary coverage. Much will depend on who is or isn’t available.
Ryan Poles will be keeping an eye on the standings.
Like everything else in the NFL, the trade deadline can be unpredictable. Everybody assumed Crosby was the name to watch for early November. However, the Las Vegas Raiders are currently 1-0. So the odds of that happening aren’t high at the moment. This is where the standings become important to watch. Usually, the teams that are sellers at the deadline are the ones who know their odds of making the playoffs are all but gone. The best thing for them to do is unload an asset or two for draft capital and prepare for next year.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
Right now, half the league is 0-1 to start the year. It is too early to determine which among them is the true bad team and which just had a tough first week. However, you can at least take an educated guess. Right now, the ones that seem destined to remain bad over the next two months include the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, and Indianapolis Colts. Do any of those teams have a player on the roster that could help the Bears and Ryan Poles might consider going after? Here are a few worth noting.
| Player | Current NFL Team | Position | 2025 Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denzel Ward | Cleveland Browns | Cornerback (CB) | 39 total tackles, 1 INT, Pro Bowl selection |
| DeForest Buckner | Indianapolis Colts | Defensive Tackle (DT) | 30 solo tackles, 4.0 sacks |
| Jeffery Simmons | Tennessee Titans | Defensive Tackle (DT) | 11.0 sacks (franchise era record for a DT) |
| A.J. Terrell | Atlanta Falcons | Cornerback (CB) | 68 total tackles (49 solo), 12 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles |
| Chop Robinson | Miami Dolphins | Edge Rusher | 15 games played, 21 total tackles, 4.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble |
There are certainly some interesting targets.
Probably the two who stand out the most are Ward and Simmons. Ward has been one of the best cover cornerbacks in the league for years. He is 29 years old, and his man-to-man ability would be an ideal fit in Dennis Allen’s system. Simmons was dominant last season, producing a career-high 11 sacks. He’d be an instant game-changer. Buckner is 32 but still remains among the NFL’s best interior pass rushers. He would be an immediate boost to the Bears’ front, at least for this season. Terrell would give the Bears another solid man-cover corner who is 27 and better than Tyrique Stevenson. Robinson hasn’t found his footing in Miami, but he has tons of pass-rush upside worth exploring.
There could end up being an unexpected name to pop up as well. You can be sure of one thing. Poles will be doing his homework on every name out there, no matter how improbable. Everything depends on how the next several weeks go for the Bears. If they maintain their current trajectory, the thoughts of a Super Bowl are sure to gain steam. When that happens, teams tend to get aggressive at the deadline. Poles hasn’t been afraid to pull the trigger when the timing feels right. This could be his moment.
