Bears keeping tabs on a few players on the trade market |
It is amazing what a few wins can do for a team and its confidence. After sitting at 1-2 and plenty of talk about coaches getting fired, the Bears have now won two straight games and are back above .500 at 3-2. That puts them right in the middle of the playoff picture and in last place in a division where all four teams have a winning record. The NFC North is the only division in football that can make that claim, and the Bears will be in a war for the rest of the way. Not only have the Bears put themselves in the middle of the playoff picture again, but they have done so with one of the easiest stretches of schedule set to unfold in the NFL. If the Bears take care of business and win the games they are expected to win, they will not only remain in the playoff hunt, but they could also be competing for a division title. The more wins this team gets, the better their chances of making the playoffs and the better their chances of making another deadline deal. As things sit right now, the Bears haven't actively started to shop the trade market, but they are keeping tabs on plenty of players as they will do what it takes to pounce when needed. According to a report by Sports Mockery, the Bears are keeping tabs on several players and three teams in particular, as those are the teams they are most likely looking to deal with. Two of the teams mentioned make a ton of sense, while the other only lands on this list due to the continued struggles at the quarterback position. The first team to follow is the Los Angeles Rams, where OG Kevin Dotson is reportedly one of their targets. The big 6-4 and 330-pounder was a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he spent his first three seasons before signing with the Rams. Dotson has been a valuable piece to both franchises, as he has played in 53 career games, 44 of which were starts. This team desperately needs some offensive line help, and although Dotson isn't the biggest name on the market, he is an upgrade compared to what the Bears have and would address an area of need on this roster.
The second team the Bears are monitoring is the New England Patriots, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The Patriots have been in rebuild mode for the past several seasons, and if things continue to go the way they are, this team will have no choice but to trade away some assets.
Offensive Guard Michael Jordan is listed as a possible target for them as the Bears continue to search for offensive line help.
However, Jordan isn't the only name on the Patriots that the Bears are considering; EDGE rusher Josh Uche is another option for this team. The Bears did target Matthew Judon this offseason, but he ultimately signed with the Falcons, leaving the Bears with a hole on the defensive side of the ball.
Uche may not be a household name, but as a 2020 second-rounder out of Michigan, he has produced at a good enough level to warrant consistent time as a starter. Across his NFL career, Uche has logged 18.5 sacks, including two more this season. He would provide the Bears another option to pair with Montez Sweat and would add a much-needed pass-rushing presence to the Defense.
The most surprising team on this list is the Cleveland Browns, who continue to hit rock bottom. The main reason for that is Deshaun Watson's horrendous play, as his days as a starter may be coming to an end. If the Bears are indeed monitoring Cleveland, G Wyatt Teller seems like a logical option, but why stop there when you could go out and make an even bigger splash?
Although highly unlikely, Myles Garrett has heard his name linked to the Bears as a possible deadline target. Should the Bears get him, their Defense will be close to unstoppable. Not only would Chicago have a budding star in Sweat continuing to do his thing, but they would also add a guy in Garrett who will be approaching 100 career sacks and has consistently been in the running for Defensive Player of the Year in the past few seasons.
Guys like him don't grow on trees, and if there is even a small chance that the Bears could acquire him, they need to look at every avenue possible. Ryan Poles has proven to be an aggressive GM by the deadline, and that shouldn't be an issue this season.
