Head coach Matt Eberflus acknowledged there was some concern about the depth the Bears have at defensive line after the team’s victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night concluded the team’s 2024 preseason schedule.
The Bears were reportedly on the market for a pass rusher and defensive lineman this weekend, with clubs completing their 53-man rosters ahead of Tuesday’s roster deadline.
Using a sixth-round pick, the Bears acquired Darrell Taylor from the Seattle Seahwaks on Friday, addressing their need for a pass rusher. The Bears traded a second sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, bringing their total number of 2025 sixth-round picks to three going into the weekend.
The Bears traded defensive tackle Chris Williams to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
With the Bears’ newest defensive tackle depth addition, Matt Eberflus can relax.
The sixth-round draft pick the Bears gave up to acquire Williams was the same pick they obtained from the Miami Dolphins in the Chase Claypool deal from previous season, as noted by Kevin Fishbain. The pick that the Bears acquired in exchange for quarterback Justin Fields from the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft is now with them. If Fields participates in more than 51% of the offensive snaps for the Steelers this season, the pick may become a fourth-round selection.
The Bears are starting Williams, a defensive lineman who is accustomed to Eberflus’ cover-2 scheme, in the same way that they did with Taylor. Williams brought experience at the defensive tackle position, which the Bears needed.
The Bears receive an easy B for this transaction. Multiple late-round selections in the same round are meant to enable clubs to make trades like to the one the Bears made on Saturday, which provided them with much-needed depth at a critical position in Eberflus’ defence.
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