The Chicago Bears got a preseason start on 2026 trade season when they sent defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons for cornerback Clark Phlllips III and a fifth-round pick. Rumors linger about a potential move for an edge rusher, but the time for that is to come, if it happens.
In the same vein as Dexter, who had trade rumors around him going back to early in the offseason, the Bears may have other players who they'll part with between now and the Nov. 10 trade deadline. General manager Ryan Poles won't be afraid to make a move or two if it makes sense.
With that, here are four Bears players who could be gone before the trade deadline.
RB Roschon Johnson
Johnson beat out Salvon Ahmed in training camp battle for the No. 3 spot on the running back depth chart. With Kyle Monangai's status currently looking fairly murky due to a knee injury, the 2023 fourth-round pick could have a bigger offensive role than expected early in the season.
If Johnson gets and does well with that bigger role, his history with limited usage prior to last season shows potential as a runner. Monangai's return to health would then push him back to primarily a special teams role, where he is clearly highly valued.
But add Ahmed's presence on the practice squad to the equation, unless another team poaches him for their own active roster in the meantime, and Johnson potentially becomes a tradeable asset with appeal to teams who would give him a bigger offensive role.
C Garrett Bradbury
The idea of trading Bradbury, practically immediately after acquiring him in March, has been rooted in the idea rookie second-round pick Logan Jones can be ready to be the Bears' starting center immediately.
The rookie's preseason performance (just three pressures allowed on 82 pass blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus) creates something of a conversation about the Week 1 starting center. That has clearly fallen below the radar compared to the question at another offensive line position, and it may very well linger into the season.
The Bears and Bradbury was never going to be a long-term commitment after Drew Dalman retired, and it won't go beyond this season barring something unforeseen. If Jones is deemed ready to step in, a capable veteran center becomes a potential trade asset.
CB Tyrique Stevenson
Stevenson is penciled in strongly as the Bears' starting perimeter cornerback opposite Jaylon Johnson. But if things break a certain way, with the trade acquisition Phillips adding depth to the room and rookie Malik Muhammad perhaps ready to take that role opposite Johnson, the contract year perpetual underachiever would get a push toward the door.
When the Bears didn't have the cornerback options they currently do, late last season, Stevenson was effectively benched. If that happens again this season, but perhaps earlier, the skids will be greased to send him elsewhere in short order.
LT Braxton Jones
If Week 1 were today Jones would be the Bears' starting left tackle, mostly by default. Ozzy Trapilo has put himself into the equation to possibly change that before the season opener actually happens, but that still seems too fast to come back from a torn patellar tendon eight months ago.
Read more: 5 Panthers players the Bears need to be careful with in Week 1
Jones is only filling the void at left tackle for the Bear until Trapilo is ready. If he stays healthy and plays fairly well in however many games he starts, the cheap one-year deal he's on would make him a potential trade target for teams who have a need at left tackle. Theo Benedet would of course remain as the swing tackle, able to back up both spots to put concerns about depth aside.
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