While the overnight news of Jaylon Johnson requesting a trade out of town is still very much fresh, the Chicago Bears are close to bringing in someone to help out in the pass rush department.
According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, the Bears have the wheels in motion to acquire a defensive end before Tuesday’s 3 p.m. CT trade deadline.
While Biggs doesn’t name any names, the obvious choice is Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young — or even his teammate Montez Sweat. The Bears were linked to Young over the weekend.
Hearing the #Bears could be close to adding a defensive end via the trade market … nothing set yet. But there are definitely wheels in motion.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) October 31, 2023
On the surface, the deal would make a lot of sense. The Bears pass rush is awful. Chicago has generated just 10 sacks, the fewest in the NFL this season. This coming on the heels of just 20 sacks last year, which was also the lowest.
The primary concerns with Young are his health and his impending contract status. The former Ohio State has been sidelined over the previous two seasons with injuries. This year, however, he’s played in all seven games, including six starts, and recorded five sacks, 15 tackles, including six tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits.
Young is in the final year of his rookie contract. The Bears would obviously like to have him around for the foreseeable future as they continue to build this thing up. Spotrac projects Young to fetch a four-year, $71.6 million deal in free agency.
The Bears have the money to swing a deal, but general manager Ryan Poles’ inability to keep homegrown talent has soured any belief that a long-term deal would get done.