The trade deadline came and went without the Bears making the extra move plenty of fans were hoping for, and that leaves Chicago to ride with the roster it has. The bigger picture, though, is already taking shape: a few players who are still in the building now are looking like long shots to be there in 2027.
The cornerback situation sits right at the center of that conversation. Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson were not part of any trade chatter, but their positions mattered because the fan base wanted another corner added before the deadline. That didn’t happen, and Chicago is left to keep leaning on both players for the rest of this season.
Johnson’s future looks especially shaky. A pick-six against Tampa Bay doesn’t change the larger story, and it certainly doesn’t erase the fact that he has not matched the level of the defense around him.
Through nine games, per Pro Football Reference, he has allowed an opposing passer rating of 104.9 and nearly 12 yards per target. Next offseason, the Bears can save $16 million by moving on, and that kind of money could go toward a replacement in free agency or other roster needs.
Chicago could also turn to Malik Muhammad on one outside spot and fill the other side with a rookie and a free agent. Johnson never seemed likely to bring back much trade value at the deadline, and based on what has shown up so far, his path back for 2027 looks bleak.
Stevenson’s outlook is even rougher. His contract situation makes the exit easier, and his performance has not helped his case at all.
He is allowing a 129.5 opposing passer rating, which is 36.1 points worse than his previous career high as a rookie. The numbers are ugly, and the eye test has matched them.
Chicago will have to finish this season with Stevenson and Johnson still in the mix, but the odds of either being around when the 2027 offseason arrives are slim.
Roschon Johnson also appears to be running out of runway. Week 9 said plenty on its own, when he was benched for a practice squad player who had not appeared in a regular season game since 2023.
That player was Salvon Ahmed, who brought some juice of his own. But the bigger takeaway was that Roschon Johnson has not become the back Chicago hoped he would be.
He has not shown the explosiveness, the vision, or the quick cuts needed to consistently create extra yards. At one point this season, he had enough work out of necessity to maybe create some trade leverage, but Kyle Monangai’s extended absence shut that door.
Even then, it is hard to imagine the Bears getting anything for him.
There is one name in this group whose trajectory changed completely. Before the Bears traded for Jeffery Simmons, Montez Sweat looked like just another piece in the defensive end rotation, the kind of player whose name rarely came up during a game.
Chicago was not getting enough back from that investment, and next year it could have saved about $21 million by cutting him loose. That picture looks very different now.
Playing next to his college teammate again has transformed Sweat’s production, and he looks as good as he ever has in Chicago. The Simmons move is the reason.
In Other News...
Rome Odunze Just Added A Dangerous New Wrinkle To Chicago's Offense
Rome Odunze had already been doing plenty of the heavy lifting in Chicagos passing game before he finally found the end zone on Sunday night. The rookie had built up a solid body of work in catches and receiving yards without a touchdown to show for it, which made his role look productive but still a little unfinished as the Bears tried to round out their offense.
Now there is at least another layer for defenses to worry about. Odunzes first score of the season came at a time when Chicago has been looking for more ways to stress opponents beyond its usual targets, and it gives the Bears a receiver who can threaten in more than one phase of the passing game. For an offense that has been searching for reliable answers, that kind of development can change the way teams have to line up against them. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Legend Sees A Path For Caleb Williams To Make History
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Mannelly also had plenty to say about the new look around Williams, especially the addition of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. He praised Simmons for the versatility and impact he brings to the roster, the sort of front-line presence that can change how an opponent has to game plan and, in turn, help create the kind of environment where a quarterback can stay in one place long enough to make history. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Win Put One Roster Trend In Focus Fast
Chicagos Week 9 win came with the offense still searching for rhythm, but it also sharpened the focus on a few roster trends that have been building beneath the surface. Theo Benedet stayed at left tackle for a second straight game and handled every snap there, a notable sign of stability on a line that has needed it, while Kalif Raymond continued to be a steady part of the passing game as the Bears worked through their usual mix of wrinkles and limitations.
On the other side of the ball, injuries in the cornerback room created an opening for Clark Phillips III, and he made the most of the extra work with a strong showing in coverage. Roschon Johnsons role, meanwhile, remains worth watching after he was absent from the offensive snap count entirely, leaving the Bears with some decisions to sort through even in a win that otherwise offered a few encouraging signs. [Read more 🡒]