The Chicago Bears have every reason to feel good about where they stand early this season, but there’s still a clear spot that could use help: the defensive front.
That’s where Miami Dolphins lineman Zach Sieler comes into the picture. With the trade deadline approaching, he looks like the kind of move that could fit what Chicago needs if the front office believes this team has a real shot at a Super Bowl run.
The Bears are in a strong enough position to keep adding on both sides of the ball, and the deadline gives them a chance to prove they’re serious about pushing higher. If they want to shore up the interior of the defense, Sieler is one of the more obvious names on the board.
“The Bears could absolutely use Sieler as a starter next to Grady Jarrett in the interior of the defense. The Dolphins could move Sieler without much in terms of dead cap, giving the team another 2027 draft pick to build on next year.
Sieler could absolutely use a change of scenery. The Bears could give it to him to bolster its 2026 playoff push,” Cory Woodroof wrote.
Sieler hasn’t put together a huge season so far - he hasn’t recorded a sack yet - but there’s enough track record to understand why he’s appealing. He put up 10 sacks in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and even when the numbers aren’t popping, he still creates pressure.
For Chicago, that kind of disruption in the trenches would be a useful boost behind an offense that’s already rolling. For Miami, moving him would come with little dead cap and could help add another 2027 draft pick as the team looks ahead.
In Other News...
Dolphins Defense Is Getting Healthier As One Return Could Matter Most
The Dolphins are starting to get a little healthier on defense, and the timing matters as the season starts to settle in. Cornerback Storm Duck is back at practice as he works his way off the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, while rookie defensive lineman Trey Moore remains on injured reserve with an ankle injury but is still expected back at some point this season.
Perhaps the most encouraging update comes with Kenneth Grant, who has been out since training camp with a foot and ankle injury. The defensive lineman is progressing well and could be close to a return to practice as early as Week 5, a development that could give Miami a needed boost up front if his recovery continues on schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Finally Be Seeing Hope From Two Young Linemen
After another loss to Kansas City dropped Miami to 0-3, the spotlight again landed on an offensive line that has spent much of the early season trying to settle itself. There were still mixed grades to sort through, but rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor and second-year right guard Jonah Savaiinaea gave the Dolphins something they have not had enough of lately: a couple of young linemen trending in the right direction.
Proctor, in particular, showed cleaner work in pass protection and even turned in a key block on a touchdown run, the kind of detail that tends to matter more as the games pile up. Miamis line also kept the Chiefs from recording a sack, which does not erase the bigger issues, but it does at least offer a small sign that the unit may be finding a foothold with two of its youngest pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Have Found A Defensive Cornerstone Much Faster Than Expected
Through his first three NFL games, Jacob Rodriguez has already started to look less like a rookie finding his footing and more like a player the Dolphins can build around. The second-round linebacker has made an early impression with an interception, multiple tackles and the kind of quick-trigger playmaking that tends to travel well on defense. His athleticism and football IQ have stood out immediately, and the comparisons being made to Lavonte David speak to how quickly he has earned attention.
Jeff Hafleys decision to start Rodriguez over incumbent Tyrel Dodson only adds to the sense that Miami sees something special here. For a team always searching for dependable defensive centerpieces, having a young linebacker this comfortable this early changes the conversation in a hurry. The larger question now is how far that trust can go, and whether Rodriguez is already on his way to becoming the leader the Dolphins hoped they were getting. [Read more 🡒]