3 players Bears must target at 2026 NFL trade deadline
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The Chicago Bears believe they are a team that has a chance to make a deep run in the postseason and earn a spot in the Super Bowl. They have certainly flashed their big-play ability in each of the last two seasons with Caleb Williams at quarterback, and they appear to have the offensive tools they need with receivers Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and tight end Colston Loveland to light up the scoreboard.
In addition to the passing game, the Bears have the top running attack in the league as they are averaging 154.3 yards per game. They are at their best when Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift are sharing the load. Monangai has missed the last three games with a turf toe and a thumb injury. If he can’t play in Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks, there is hope that he could be back shortly after that.
Buckner would have been an excellent addition, but now Bears have to pivot
The defense is not as consistent or as effective as the offense, and this is the area that general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have to look at going forward. One of the players that they needed to consider going after was defensive tackle DeForest Buckner of the Indianapolis Colts.
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Buckner was not thrilled playing for a Colts team that has fallen to 2-5 in the AFC South. He expressed his desire to play for a team that has a chance to play for the Super Bowl, and if the Bears had been able to trade for him, Buckner would have been an ideal fit.
However, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Bears to the punch, trading a fourth-round pick for him Tuesday night.
The Bears need to go after one of their former players to improve their defense. Khalil Mack of the Chargers could give the Bears a significant lift on defense. He is not the dominant player that he was earlier in his career, but he can still make plays at the age of 35.
The Chargers are in the middle of a disastrous season, and the Bears would benefit greatly from bringing back a player who wore a Chicago uniform from 2018 through 2021.
The Bears are a much better team than they were during Mack’s earlier run in Chicago, and that will likely inspire him to finish the season in excellent fashion. He knows the Bears are looking for an improved pass rush and he could clearly deliver an upgrade in an area.
Adding to the defense is vital even if they get Mack
Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has confidence that his unit can come up with the key stops in the second half. It is one thing to play disciplined defense and make the plays in the secondary, but the strongest defensive teams have a big-time pass rusher who can take over with the ability to crush the opposing quarterback and register sacks.
The Bears haven’t shown that they have that kind of player. Defensive end Austin Booker has 4.0 sacks and 5 tackles for loss in seven games this season. He has been matched by all-purpose cornerback Kyler Gordon who already has 4.0 sacks even though he has only played 2 games. Gordon is a huge playmaker as he has also forced 2 fumbles.
But the Bears need an edge rusher, and they may want to take a long look and pursue Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals. While he has just 2.0 sacks this season, Sweat has 12.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 passes batted down a year ago.
Sweat has explosive speed and he can bust through the smallest cracks and create havoc. The 29-year-old Sweat should have multiple good years left in the tank, so he could cost the Bears at least two draft picks to bring him into the fold. The Bears need considerable help with their pass rush, so he appears to be the right player to add.
Bringing in a tight end appears to be vital
The Bears loved their tight end situation with Loveland and Cole Kmet, but a season-ending knee injury has resulted in a need at the position. Kmet is done for the year, and the Bears may want to look to the Philadelphia Eagles for tight end Dallas Goedert.
The Bears are a team that loves using multiple-TE formations, and the 31-year-old Goedert would be an ideal fit for Johnson’s offensive system. The Eagles have fallen to 2-5 and general manager Howie Roseman appears to be in a sell mode. If that is the case, Poles need to go after Goedert to support Loveland.
Goedert has caught 22-228-2 this season, and that comes a year after he caught 60-591-11. While Goedert is not a burner, he is a solid third-down and red zone weapon. He would be a fine addition to the Johnson offense.
Related: Bears release veteran cornerback after 2nd stint with team
Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.