Wednesday night, the Chicago Bears made news in an unusual way. When the New England Patriots agreed to trade pass rusher Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons, it was quickly revealed that the Bears were also in on the deal.
Ultimately, New England accepted Atlanta’s offer. But what made Atlanta’s offer better than Chicago’s?
According to Patriots insider Phil Perry:
“There were several teams interested in acquiring the 32-year-old, according to league sources, including the Bears, whose desire for a pass-rusher led them to offer a third-round selection of their own.”
Interestingly, the Bears also offered a third-round pick in exchange for Judon. That suggests the Patriots expected to receive a higher third-round pick if they accepted the Falcons’ offer.
Even after Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, and Rondale Moore, and already had a pretty complete squad on both sides of the ball, the Patriots still expected the Bears to finish with a better record than the Falcons.
It appears that the league has taken official notice of the Bears roster. The Caleb Williams effect is real, people. And this influence began far before the draft. When Chicago acquired Keenan Allen, the former Chargers wideout anticipated Williams’ arrival. After the purchase was completed, it was clear that Ryan Poles was serious about developing a competitor as soon as possible.
Fast forward, and the Bears appear to have a top-ten defence, replete with a dangerous linebacker core and a secondary that could be among the best in the league. The only item missing was another pass rusher opposite Montez Sweat, something the Bears may still be able to get.
What pass rushers may the Bears still target ahead of the regular season?
There are still a few free agents available, but these two may be the finest.
Yannick Ngakoue, free agent.
The Bears could just re-sign Yannick Ngakoue, who is still available. His season in Chicago last year didn’t go as well as he had intended. However, with a reinvigorated defence (and squad as a whole), we may witness a different Ngakoue than we did in 2023.
Charles Harris, free agent.
The former first-round pick from 2017 most recently played for the Detroit Lions, where he recorded 10.0 sacks over three seasons, including 7.5 in 2021.
Can the Bears still trade for a pass rusher?
There may not be any genuine trade alternatives following the Judon deal, but these names are worth looking into at the very least.
Haasan Reddick, New York Jets.
Of certainly, the latest Haasan Reddick scenario should be monitored. The Jets paid a third-round pick for Reddick, who has yet to play or practise for the team and just wanted a trade a few days ago. However, the Jets have complete control here. Even if Reddick sits out and does not play, ultimately signing somewhere when his contract expires, New York will earn a third-round compensatory pick.
If the Bears really wanted Reddick, they’d have to offer more than a third-round pick. If they do make an offer, it might be a game changer for this season’s prospects.
Be the first to comment