The Bears have reasons to feel good about Dennis Allen’s defense, even with a few key pieces missing in recent games. Kyler Gordon and those aggressive secondary blitzes have given the unit some juice. But that alone isn’t likely to be enough if Chicago wants a real boost to its pass rush.
That’s where DeForest Buckner enters the picture.
The Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle was asked this week about his future with the team, and his answer was brief: “Right now, I’m just focused on the Vikings.”
That response, paired with his expression, said plenty. The Colts are 2-4, they just fired general manager Chris Ballard, and Buckner looks ready for something better than where Indianapolis is headed. At this stage of his career, the former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler has to be thinking about a Super Bowl run.
The Colts’ situation only adds fuel to the idea that they could move him before the NFL trade deadline. Their latest loss came against the Tennessee Titans, a team that has looked like the worst in football so far, and somehow Indianapolis still came out on the wrong side of it.
Quarterback Daniel Jones has not looked like the player he was before last year’s injury. There’s even a sense the Colts could turn back to Anthony Richardson, just to avoid having to commit fully to a rookie quarterback in 2027.
Buckner has been one of the names whispered in trade talk lately, alongside Jonathan Taylor, a move that would send shockwaves through the league. In Buckner’s case, the final year of the two-year contract he signed with Indianapolis could make him a relatively affordable target, and possibly more than just a short-term fix.
For Chicago, the fit is obvious. The Bears already need help at defensive tackle, and they could be looking at an opening there beyond this season if they move on from Grady Jarrett after the year and clear that contract. Buckner could address both problems at once: help right now and provide some stability up front going forward.
And he’s still producing at a high level. Buckner has 6.0 sacks and 19 pressures this season, according to PFF, along with 10 hurries and 11 defensive stops. For an interior lineman to impact the game like that is no small thing, and Buckner has been doing it for years.
Given his age and expiring contract, it’s easy to see the price staying reasonable. A fourth-round pick, or even less, feels like the kind of deal Chicago might be able to pull off. For Ryan Poles, that’s the kind of move worth making.
In Other News...
Bears Win Felt Huge But Two Problems Should Worry Fans
The Bears got the kind of win that can steady a locker room, outlasting the Patriots 30-24 in a game that featured contributions all over the field. Kyler Gordon made his presence felt on defense with a sack and several tackles, DAndre Swift gave the offense a physical edge on the ground, and Caleb Williams was sharp enough in the fourth quarter to help close it out.
Still, the victory did not erase the stuff that can haunt a team later. Chicago was loose enough in spots to create some early frustration, and Rome Odunzes day summed up the range of emotions nicely, with one rough moment offset by a late play when the Bears needed it most. The result counts the same in the standings, but the sloppier stretches are the part the coaching staff will keep circling back to. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Williams May Have Found What The Bears Needed Most
Caleb Williams is back from the hamstring injury, and through two starts he has given the Bears something they have been searching for all season: steadiness at quarterback. He has completed 75.4 percent of his passes for 613 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, while looking more comfortable operating from the pocket and showing the kind of ball security Chicago has lacked too often.
What has stood out just as much is the way Williams has changed his game since returning. He has dialed back his running, a sensible adjustment as he works around the injury, and the result has been a cleaner, more controlled version of the offense. For a Bears team still trying to find its identity, the bigger question now is whether this more efficient approach is a short-term fix or the start of something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Win Showed Why Their Young Core Suddenly Feels Different
The Bears Week 7 win over the Patriots pushed them to 5-2, but the bigger takeaway was how many young players looked ready for the moment. Colston Loveland kept finding ways to matter, Dillon Thieneman added impact plays, and Kyler Gordon helped steady a defense that was still missing some familiar pieces. For a team that has spent plenty of time building toward this kind of depth, the victory felt like another reminder that the roster is starting to look different in a meaningful way.
Luther Burden was part of that shift too, providing one of the explosive plays that can change a game in a hurry, and the Bears got another important contribution from DMarco Jackson while he filled in for T.J. Edwards. Chicago did not just survive against New England with its established names carrying the load. It got real production from younger pieces across the lineup, which is the kind of development that can make a midseason win feel bigger than the standings suggest. [Read more 🡒]