A lot of credit has been given to Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles for the offseason he has had, but one more move could make them playoff contenders.
Bleacher Report writer Matt Holder made suggestions to each NFL team on what trade they should make before the 2025 campaign begins. Holder is looking for the Bears to add one more edge rusher to help with their pass rush.
"This time last year, the Bears were looking to add a pass-rusher to play opposite Montez Sweat and settled on Darrell Taylor. But he didn't pan out with a career-low three sacks in 2024, so Chicago let him walk during free agency.
Now, it's back to square one for Chicago general manager Ryan Poles, meaning he should explore the trade market for an edge-defender again."
Will Poles made a move to bring in another pass rusher in 2025?
Currently, the Bears have Sweat off one edge and free agent signing Dayo Odeyingbo on the other side. There's still a belief that Sweat can remain a premier rusher in the NFL, but his 5.5 sacks in 2024 have some worried that he's starting to lose a step in his game. Odeyingbo is also coming off a disappointing 2024 season, during which he recorded only three sacks, the lowest total since his rookie season in 2021.
That leaves the Bears in a situation to see who else can step up off the edge for them. Austin Booker has been a popular name to watch for a breakout season, as he is expected to see more playing time. Chicago's other options include Dominique Robinson, Xavier Carlton, Daniel Hardy, and Jamree Kromah, but none of them really scream out "breakout potential" like Booker.
What options do the Bears have in free agency or the trade market to go after an edge rusher? The dream would be Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, but that might be too high a price to ask for. Another Bengal to consider, rookie Shemar Stewart, could be a nice option off the edge and a cheaper one since he might be one foot out the door in Cincinnati even before the season begins.
Read more: Obvious best Bears offseason move has more future implications than in just 2025
It doesn't feel as though Poles is going to make any more moves before the season unless a great deal comes his way. Staying put and waiting until the trade deadline could be the smarter move for Chicago, just to see what they have with the players on the roster now.