The Bears know what they want: another edge threat who can tilt the field opposite Montez Sweat. Josh Sweat fits that idea neatly, coming off a 12 sack season and checking plenty of boxes for Ryan Poles. The catch is the part that matters most - Arizona has shown little interest in actually moving him.
If that stalemate holds, Chicago still has paths to explore.
Kayvon Thibodeaux looks like the most realistic fallback. The Giants have already poured major resources into their pass rush with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, which naturally raises questions about Thibodeaux’s future in New York.
He’s also on his fifth year option, which is worth roughly $14.8 million before he reaches free agency. That gives the Bears a reason to at least make the call.
Through four NFL seasons, Thibodeaux has 23.5 sacks. He hasn’t turned into the overwhelming force some expected when the Giants took him fifth overall, but Chicago wouldn’t need him to carry the entire load.
Montez Sweat is already in place. Adding another capable edge defender across from him could create the kind of pressure the Bears aren’t getting now.
At 25, Thibodeaux would also be more than a short-term fix if Chicago wanted to keep him beyond this season.
Then there’s the big swing: Maxx Crosby.
Chicago has been linked to Crosby before, and his name figures to keep surfacing whenever the Raiders’ future gets murky. For a Bears team that believes it can contend now, the appeal is obvious. Crosby changes a defense.
He’d also cost a lot. Las Vegas would have every reason to ask for premium draft capital for one of the league’s best defensive players, and a deal could require Poles to part with a first round pick before the Raiders even seriously engage. That’s a much different conversation than moving a mid round pick for help.
Still, if Chicago opens the season looking like a real NFC contender and the pass rush remains the weak spot, Poles may have to decide how far he’s willing to go.
Alex Highsmith is another name that could come into play later. He doesn’t have Crosby’s star power, but he may end up making more sense for the Bears.
Pittsburgh has no reason to move him before seeing what kind of season it has, but that can change fast. If the Steelers slide and become sellers, Highsmith would be the type of veteran Chicago should be checking on.
He’s already shown he can produce next to another dangerous pass rusher, which makes him a logical fit beside Montez Sweat.
Chicago doesn’t necessarily need a headline-grabbing star. It needs someone offenses can’t just leave alone.
That’s what makes Josh Sweat so appealing in the first place. He solves the problem without forcing the Bears to tear up their future. But if Arizona won’t budge, Poles should keep dialing.
Thibodeaux offers youth and upside. Highsmith could be the more affordable veteran route. Crosby is the expensive dream if Chicago decides this roster is one major defensive addition away from a serious push.
The Bears have options. Now it’s a matter of which one becomes real.
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Raymond is a familiar face for Ben Johnson, who saw him produce effectively with the Detroit Lions, and that familiarity could make him one of the safer options in a first game that may require some improvisation. Chicago does have multiple receiving options, though, so the setup points more toward spreading the ball around than one player piling up a huge share of the production. [Read more 🡒]
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Malik Muhammad is the name suddenly worth tracking. The rookie cornerback has flashed enough in preseason to earn some attention, and hes now listed as the teams second nickelback, which puts him in line for a bigger role if the Bears need help right away. For a defense trying to hold things together in the back end, Muhammad may not just be a developmental piece anymore. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Suddenly Have A Real Ozzy Trapilo Question Up Front
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The timeline now points to a possible return to game action around Week 6 if he keeps clearing the checkpoints along the way. For Chicago, the question is not just when Trapilo can get back on the field, but how the staff balances the need for help up front with the need to avoid a setback after such a significant injury. [Read more 🡒]