Bears Could Pursue Trade Additions

Having found success with Case Keenum and then Tyson Bagent under center, the Bears have managed to put themselves in strong early contention for a playoff spot. A buyer’s stance during the build-up to the trade deadline would thus come as no surprise. Indeed, ESPN’s Dan Graziano names Chicago as a candidate to pursue one or more additions over the coming weeks.

As expected, the Bears have thrived with respect to their rushing attack so far in 2026. The team’s ceiling on offense overall will remain high for several reasons moving forward, including the pending return of left tackle Ozzy Trapilo. The other side of the ball has faced several questions since training camp, though.

Chicago’s secondary – which has been without safety Coby Bryant and may not see him return at any point in 2026 – was mentioned as a unit potentially in need of reinforcements prior to Week 1. The same was true of the Bears’ pass rush room. Graziano names those two areas as potential targets on the trade front, although slot cornerback Kyler Gordon is nearing a return. That could ease the pressure (if he is feeling any) on general manager Ryan Poles to swing a deal aimed at reinforcing the defensive backfield.

The Bears recorded seven sacks across their first three games and added another three against the Jets today. An edge rush acquisition may not be seen as a front-burner issue as a result either, though buyers around the league often seek depth at that spot for the stretch run. It will be interesting to see if Poles – who has not been shy about executing trades over the course of his tenure – seeks out at least a depth addition relatively soon.

Chicago currently sits mid-pack in the league in terms of financial flexibility. With $7.34MM in cap space, though, making an addition or two of some kind should be feasible if Poles chooses to pursue the trade route.