The Bears have found their footing again after the loss to the Green Bay Packers, flattening the Atlanta Falcons in a game that felt far more one-sided than the final score made it look. Even with that bounce-back, one issue keeps staring them in the face: the secondary.
Jaylon Johnson has been a massive liability in coverage, and Tyrique Stevenson has not offered much help as a fixer behind him. So if Chicago general manager Ryan Poles is looking around for a practical upgrade, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be worth a call. If they keep stumbling at 1-5, maybe they’d be willing to listen on Zyon McCollum.
McCollum has been one of the few reliable pieces for Todd Bowles’ group. After a rough 2025 season, he’s answered back with a steadier run, allowing 24 catches on 34 targets for 244 yards and one touchdown. He’s also added seven passes defensed, one tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery.
There’s no guarantee Tampa Bay would move him. The Buccaneers signed him to a three-year deal worth $16 million a season, and that kind of investment usually isn’t easy to walk away from.
Still, if the slide continues, a soft rebuild could be on the table. Tampa Bay also used a fourth-round pick on Keionte Scott, and they appear to be extremely high on him.
For Chicago, the path at corner could involve more than just outside help. Stevenson can be benched for rookie Malik Muhammad, who has looked like a steal. With Kyler Gordon now back to full strength, the Bears no longer need Stevenson to handle nickel duties.
But Johnson’s struggles still leave a hole, and Chicago is basically tied to him because of the contract situation. That’s why a player like McCollum makes sense: a younger addition who could help stabilize the position now while giving the Bears a possible route to move on from their veteran later.
The Bears’ defense has held up better than many expected this season, but it still doesn’t quite match the ceiling of the top contenders. The offense can cover some of that, yet the balance would matter a lot more once the games turn into win-or-go-home football. McCollum may not be the splashiest target, but he fits the kind of budget-friendly swing Chicago should be willing to explore if it wants to keep this momentum rolling and push deeper in the playoffs.
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Minnesota still has the edge for now, but the path ahead is far from simple, and that matters for a Bears team trying to stay in the conversation. Chicagos latest step forward only adds to the sense that this division could tighten quickly if the Vikings hit turbulence, especially with the Packers climbing and the Lions not looking quite as secure as their standing suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Win Could Not Hide One Growing Cairo Santos Concern
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Santos is now 8-for-11 on field goal attempts, and that is the sort of number that can look fine until a game turns late and a longer try becomes unavoidable. For a Bears team thinking beyond the regular season, the issue is not just one miss on one Sunday, but whether Chicago needs to keep a close eye on possible upgrades before a tighter spotlight arrives. [Read more 🡒]