With Myles Garrett formally requesting a trade from the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears fans had immediate flashbacks to the weekend prior to the 2018 NFL regular season.
The Bears had second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky paired with first-year head coach Matt Nagy. With Trubisky in the middle of his rookie contract, the Bears took a massive swing as they traded for Khalil Mack.
The Bears gave the Raiders two first-round picks, one third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick in exchange for Mack. The Bears also got a second-round pick and a conditional sixth-round pick. Beyond the trade itself, the Bears also made Mack the highest-paid defensive player in the history of the NFL at the time with a new six-year contract worth $141MM.
Having not addressed the need for a pass-rusher during the 2018 offseason, the trade for Mack on the eve of the regular season catapulted the Bears' defense to being the best unit in the NFL that season. It was also one of the last seasons that the Bears had continuity on the offensive and defensive lines.
The Mack trade is important context when considering the idea of the Bears trading for Garrett.
The only similarity that exists between this version of the Bears and the 2018 team that trade for Mack is the fact they have second-year quarterback on a rookie contract paired with a first-year head coach. That is where the similarities stop and is the reason why the Bears are in no position to trade for Garrett this offseason.
Trading for Myles Garrett wouldn't be a home run for the Bears.
In a world where the Bears did not already trade for and sign Montez Sweat to an extension approaching $100MM, there could be a case to be made that the Bears should trade for Garrett. The blueprint would be the Mack trade while also signing Garrett to a contract that will likely make him the highest-paid defensive player in the history of the NFL once again. With Sweat already here, the Bears can not afford to pour those types of resources into another pass-rusher.
The biggest and most glaring reason why the Bears shouldn't trade for Garrett is that a deal would undoubtedly include multiple 2025 NFL Draft picks being moved to the Browns, starting with the No. 10 overall selection. Using that selection for anything other than an offensive lineman would be an egregious miss by Ryan Poles. The offensive line needs to be at the forefront of every move the Bears make this offseason. Short of the Bears adding two legitimate starting offensive linemen in free agency, there isn't a scenario where the team should trade any draft picks of consequence in exchange for Garrett.