3 off-the-wall trade targets the Chicago Bears need to turn things around

Kaiir Elam, CB - BUF

To be honest, I'm not sure the Bills are going to be willing to move on from Kaiir Elam. Despite being a backup in Buffalo, the Bills are sitting at 6-2 on the year and are atop the AFC East by three games. That does not scream sellers. I still think it would be worth a phone call for Ryan Poles though.

Like the other two names listed, Elam is a former first-round draft pick. He has not lived up to expectations since being selected 23rd overall by the Bills in 2022. He started six games in his rookie season but only two in 2023. This year he has only seen 5% of the defensive snaps in Buffalo. Elam is going to probably cost more just because the Bills are not in a position to sell. I still have to think he could be had for a conditional fourth-rounder in 2025.

The Bears' secondary is banged up. Jaquan Brisker hasn't seen the field since Week 3 due to a concussion. Kyler Gordon is dealing with a hamstring injury and is questionable to play this week after missing the awful Week 8 loss on the Hail Mary. If Gordon was healthy, would the Hail Mary have failed for Washington? Maybe.

Speaking of the failed Hail Mary, Tyrique Stevenson struggled to keep his composure and might not start against the Cardinals in Week 9. Adding a guy like Kaiir Elam could help push Stevenson and others from a competition standpoint. Elam is a lengthy corner at over 6'1". His style of play has been compared to Jaylon Johnson and who better to learn from than the man himself?

Let's not forget that Eric Washington was Elam's coach (to a degree) just last season and is now the Bears' defensive coordinator. I'd be talking to Washington and getting his take on Elam if I was Ryan Poles. Adding a player like him could help keep this defensive unit intact for the rest of the year.

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