Bears Want Pass Rusher, But Chargers Won’t Trade Mack

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The Chicago Bears need help on defense, but the most obvious target might be off the table. A week prior, NFL Insider Jordan Schultz noted that the Bears and 49ers sought to acquire players ahead of a highly active trade deadline. He noted that both teams want to be aggressive. However, a major roadblock exists for Chicago’s top choice.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Los Angeles Chargers have “given no indication that they’re willing to trade anybody.” This stance blocks the Bears from acquiring Khalil Mack, even though the team has been linked to the star rusher for weeks. The winless Chargers simply do not want to move their best defender right now. This creates a tough spot for general manager Ryan Poles.

The Defensive Targets

Even with the Mack obstacle, Schultz returned to Ryan Clark’s The Pivot podcast Monday. He mentioned the 49ers and Bears again regarding their needs. “I don’t think either team is done,” Schultz said. He believes the 49ers still want a receiver and pass rusher. “The Bears want another pass rusher and secondary help,” Schultz added. This confirms the front office is not resting on their recent moves.

The Tennessee Titans’ All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was secured by Chicago in a major prior move. In exchange for Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick, the team surrendered two first-round picks plus one fourth-round selection. That deal shows how aggressive Poles has been. Now the question is whether they can find a second big name before the deadline hits on Tuesday, November 10.

If the Mack deal falls through, other names remain in play. The Bears could look at Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat. Schultz also mentioned DeForest Buckner, though the 49ers already traded for him. The secondary help Schultz referenced could be a corner or a veteran safety. Acquiring a safety would allow the squad to return Cam Lewis to a versatile reserve position.

The Quarterback Catch

While the defense gets the most buzz, a trade between the Bears and Ravens could happen too. Baltimore is down a franchise quarterback after Lamar Jackson suffered a thumb injury in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. The quarterback will need surgery and may miss the rest of the season. This injury blow forces Baltimore to look for a new starter.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Ravens interest exists regarding Bears backup Tyson Bagent. “Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle had that same position last year in Chicago,” Florio states in the piece. The connection makes the deal logical, but the price could be high. Florio says that it’s not going to be cheap for Baltimore to get Bagent.

The financial details make this tricky for the Bears to give up. “And the Bears have three quarterbacks. Bagent has a $4M salary in 2026, and a $4.25M compensation package in 2027,” Florio stated. Behind Caleb Williams, the Bears still hold Case Keenum under contract. With the Ravens in a tight spot and zero quarterbacks on their practice squad, Chicago holds the leverage. The price goes up when a team has an in-season need.

The trade deadline is just one week away. The Bears must decide if they can get a pass rusher without Mack or if they should cash in on their quarterback depth. Currently sitting at 4-4, the Ravens must return to winning ways. If the Bears play the market right, they could upgrade the roster twice in one week. The clock is ticking toward the 3:00 PM CT deadline on Tuesday.

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.