The Bears are staring at a familiar front-office test, and the clock is ticking.
With the NFL trade deadline set for November 10th, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin said Chicago has real reason to consider getting aggressive, especially with Caleb Williams still on a rookie contract. But one of the names tied to the Bears is already off the board, which only sharpens the pressure on Ryan Poles to decide what kind of move, if any, he wants to make.
During an October 27th appearance on ESPN Chicago's The Chicago Bears Podcast, Cronin laid out why the moment feels different for Chicago than it has in past rebuilding seasons.
"You can't waste this opportunity to win with a quarterback who is still on his rookie contract," Cronin said.
She also pointed out that Poles has long placed a premium on draft capital, which makes the idea of paying a heavy price for help a tougher sell. Still, Cronin framed this as a Bears team that can genuinely compete, and one where the offensive progress has changed the conversation.
The issue is on the other side of the ball. Chicago still has questions along the defensive line and in the secondary, and Cronin identified those spots as areas where help could make sense. She mentioned Khalil Mack, Jeffrey Simmons and DeForest Buckner as names floating around the trade market.
Buckner was the one Chicago reportedly had interest in - but not for long.
Later Tuesday, Indianapolis sent Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. For a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle who already has four sacks this season, that was a surprisingly light return. Jordan Schultz had previously reported that the Bears and 49ers were among the teams showing interest in defensive help, including Buckner.
Now he’s headed to San Francisco, leaving the Bears to keep shopping.
That doesn’t mean Chicago should have jumped at the price. Buckner is 32 and nearing free agency. But another contender landing a proven pass rusher for a fourth-rounder is exactly the kind of move that forces a front office to recheck its own board.
Cronin also brought up Mack as a possible target, which naturally stands out because of his history in Chicago. Simmons would be a bigger swing and likely cost more in draft picks. And Montez Sweat’s return from suspension gives the Bears another layer of information before they decide whether to make their own move.
The Bears don’t have to blow up the future to improve. But with Buckner already gone and Seattle also strengthening its offensive line by acquiring Quenton Nelson, the market is moving, and the NFC contenders are acting like it.
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The Bears went into the trade market looking for help on both sides of the ball, and two of the biggest names involved were Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. Indianapolis ultimately moved both players elsewhere, dealing Nelson to the Seahawks and Buckner to the 49ers for draft picks, while Chicago came up short after reportedly being in the mix for each upgrade.
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Bears Still Have One Big Chance To Fix Their Biggest Need
The Bears went into the market with a clear idea of the kind of difference-maker they wanted in the middle of their defense, and DeForest Buckner fit the bill. Instead, the Colts moved him to San Francisco, leaving Chicago to keep searching for a defensive tackle who can give the front seven more force and durability. It is the kind of need that tends to linger unless a team is willing to get aggressive, and the Bears have not exactly hidden the fact that they are still looking for help.
With Buckner off the board, the conversation now shifts to a handful of alternative names who could still be in play over the coming weeks. Chicago can circle familiar options like Vita Vea, Moro Ojomo, Daron Payne, Grover Stewart, Zach Seiler and AShawn Robinson, but the most eye-catching fallback sits in Tennessee, where one big-name target would require a massive price tag and a trade package reminiscent of the Khalil Mack deal. For a Bears team trying to close the gap, the question is not whether help is needed. It is how far they are willing to go to get it. [Read more 🡒]