The Bears have reached the point where Jaylon Johnson’s spot can’t be treated like a given anymore. Through eight weeks, he’s been beaten in ways Chicago simply hasn’t been able to absorb, and the numbers tell the story: a career-worst 73.7% completion rate allowed, 17.7 yards per reception surrendered, and a 124.3 opposing quarterback rating.
That kind of slide is why the conversation has shifted toward the trade market. With Ryan Poles having already gone all-in on a Super Bowl push by acquiring Jeffery Simmons, Chicago has options to patch the problem before the deadline. Three names stand out as affordable swings.
Donte Jackson is the cleanest fit if the Bears want help without paying a premium. The L.A.
Chargers are still sitting at 0-7, and while they’ve insisted they aren’t moving players, that feels more like leverage than a hard line. Jackson is in the final year of a two-year deal and is headed for free agency in 2027, which makes him the kind of player a contender could rent for the stretch run and then let cash in later.
He also brings something Chicago has lacked this season: takeaways. Jackson is tied for the fifth-most interceptions by an active player with 23, and the Bears haven’t been forcing turnovers at the same level they did in 2025. He’s also working back from a hamstring injury and has missed a handful of games, which could keep the price down while he gets closer to full health.
If Chicago wants a bigger swing, Riq Woolen is the boom-or-bust name in the mix. The Bears could even use the fifth-round pick they got in exchange for Gervon Dexter Sr. to make it happen.
Woolen’s appeal is obvious - size, speed, and the kind of physical tools that jump off the screen. The problem is the rest of the package.
His decision-making has been shaky, and he’s been burned often enough to make any deal feel risky.
Still, there’s a case for betting on the Bears’ front seven to help cover some of those flaws. If Woolen doesn’t have to hold up in coverage for as long, the damage could be limited.
He’s had some useful production this year, too, with a pass breakup in five of eight games and six total on the season. He’s been charged with giving up three touchdowns in coverage, but the Eagles are second-to-last in sacks with 10, while Chicago sits fifth in the league with 22.
That pass rush matters here. Woolen’s speed can match anyone, and his size makes him a natural press option when the situation calls for it. With Dennis Allen in the mix, the Bears would be betting that the structure around him can bring out more of the good and hide some of the bad.
Then there’s Nahshon Wright, the most straightforward bargain of the bunch. The Jets aren’t even using him, and that opens the door for Ryan Poles to make a low-cost move and still bring in a player who could start. Wright already knows the scheme in Chicago and has worked with Dennis Allen before, which makes the transition easier.
He also has a track record the Bears would gladly take. In 2025, Wright posted five interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
That kind of ball production matters for a defense that needs more disruption, even if it comes with some volatility. Wright can give up plays.
But he also has the kind of instincts that can change a game, and that’s more than Chicago has gotten from Johnson this season.
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Bears Primetime Test Could Shape Their NFC North Chase
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Among the most intriguing angles are the projections around Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, both of whom could help tilt the night in Chicagos favor if the passing game finds its rhythm. There is also a defensive wrinkle worth watching with Jeffery Simmons, whose arrival has raised expectations for immediate impact, and whose ability to pressure the quarterback and slow the Buccaneers on the ground could go a long way toward deciding whether the Bears leave Tampa with a statement win. [Read more 🡒]