NEWSLETTER
Although we may have had a sense of the Bears’ team needs going into training camp, that picture is becoming a whole lot clearer as we approach the regular season. Indeed, football’s worst-kept-secret is out there for everyone to discuss. The Bears need a pass-rusher. Maybe two. And they need one in the worst way possible.
And that means trade rumors – such like the ones circling Raiders pass-rusher Khalil Mack or even Shane Ray of the Broncos – are going to kick up here and there before the regular season starts. How (if?) the Bears go about addressing this issue via the trade market remains to be seen, but it’s going to take some outside-of-the-box thinking.
Albert Breer pens The MMQB column over at SI.com these days and offers up some rumored rumblings regarding what teams could be looking for on the trade market, even if there is still some time before the rumor mill really starts spinning: “[A] number of teams are sniffing around for offensive line help,” Breer writes. “The reason why has been on everyone’s TV over the last couple of weeks – depth at those positions is spotty. So if your team has a few spare big guys, the return could actually be good.”
While the Bears aren’t explicitly named here, they are one of the few teams in the league that could withstand trading an offensive lineman. Specifically, one of the names along the interior.
Let’s say rookie James Daniels plays his way into a starting position. That would leave Eric Kush and Earl Watford as veterans with starting experience who could possibly be up for inclusion in a trade. Behind Kush and Watford are players such as Hroniss Grasu, Jordan Morgan, Rashaad Coward, Bradley Sowell, Matt McCants, Will Pericak, and Brandon Greene. There is plenty of competition behind the starters for a reserve role along the offensive line, so it’s quite possible the Bears could be a team fielding calls from teams looking around for help up front.
To be clear, the Bears aren’t going to be able to trade a backup offensive lineman for a star pass-rusher like Mack. But it’s possible GM Ryan Pace could find a team willing to trade from depth at the outside linebacker/edge defender position or even tack on some always appreciated mid-to-late-round draft picks in exchange for a lineman who can provide a helping hand.
This much is known, Chicago has to get creative sooner or later if it is going to round out its roster for the 2018 season which begins in 18 days.
