Ryan Poles has the prime opportunity to kick the tires on a previous trade target that he can now land at a much cheaper discount

Despite winning four consecutive games and the 2025 belief starting to change inside the Chicago Bears building, the idea of the Bears going big game hunting at the trade deadline still seems like a decision that could backfire for the long-term planning process.

Yet, the Bears still have some clear needs on the roster worth addressing and the big one is finding more help off the edge on defense. Granted, the team just put a four-sack performance up in Week 7, two of those sacks came off blitzes by two defensive backs.

Edge is still something the Bears could look to improve ahead of the deadline and if general manager Ryan Poles wants to kick the tires on a former trade target, now would be the time.

Trade interest in Matt Judon should start to pick up following Week 7

Leading up to the 2024 season, the Bears were pursuing some help off the edge to compliment Montez Sweat. That search nearly led to Chicago trading for veteran defensive end Matt Judon, previously with the New England Patriots.

However, Poles ultimately weighed the cost and opted out of the decision, as shown during HBO's "Hard Knocks" that was in the building that summer.

"I don't want to get the club in a position where we have a player that's here, we've given up a draft pick, and we haven't had a resolution on a contract," Poles explained on the show.

Judon was eventually traded to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round draft pick and the two sides never reached a resolution on a contract, like Poles feared, leading to Judon hitting free agency. In August of 2025, Judon signed with the Miami Dolphins.

Judon appeared in each of the first six games with the Dolphins as a reserve player off the edge. But, in Week 7, Judon was a healthy scratch. Usually a sign the team is willing to part ways with the player this time of year, especially a struggling team like Miami willing to offload players.

The likely trade for Judon would be a sixth/seventh pick swap, according to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones. A price Poles might now be willing to pay without fear of giving up too much for a one-year mercenary off the edge.