Chicago Bears Rumors: What would it take to trade for O.J. Howard

The Chicago Bears need a tight end, but the 2020 draft class is nothing special. What would it take to trade for O.J. Howard?

As we sit here today, the Chicago Bears have 10 tight ends on the roster. Why are we even talking about bringing in another one then? The answer is simple, O.J. Howard is a better bet than any of the tight ends in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Can we agree that the Bears are still in “win now” mode? Drafting a tight end early makes little sense based on the current situation the team is in. Rookie tight ends rarely make a big impact. Ryan Pace needs to find immediate impact players with the team’s two second-round picks.

Reports are out that the Buccaneers are looking to acquire a second-round pick for Howard.

If Pace is looking to use a second-rounder on a tight end, he should inquire about Howard instead. The 50th overall pick is more than enough for Howard.

All of that said, I am hoping Pace has no plans on using a second-round pick on a tight end in this draft. Cole Kmet is my top tight end prospect and I would not want to touch him before the third-round. Howard is much more intriguing though if Pace is off his meds.

Howard is a former first-round pick. He was drafted 19th overall in the 2017 draft. He has not lived up to those expectations yet, but his first two years were not awful. 2019 was a different story. He only scored one touchdown and had five drops. Yikes. Could the Chicago Bears use that in their favor?

Would Tampa Bay take a fifth-round pick and Trey Burton for Howard? The Bucs can easily absorb Burton’s contract and if things do not work out, they can cut ties easily in 2021. Not sure that’s enough though since they want a second for Howard. The thing is, Howard is not worth a second.

What about a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 third for Howard instead? This way the Chicago Bears can still address the offensive line, safety, wide receiver and cornerback position early. Then Pace can trade Burton away for a sixth or seventh-rounder and have Jimmy Graham and O.J. Howard to throw to instead.

The question is, which Howard shows up? The 2017 and 2018 version or the one we all saw last year? What do you think? Want Howard? What would you give up for him?