As the dust settles on the notable part of free agency, the needs the Chicago Bears are likely to hone in for April's draft have become clear. Most notably, the defensive front and the safety position are sure to be prioritized with early picks.
Still, potential moves to add veterans to the mix should not be totally off the radar. The trade front is how that will most likely happen, and when the draft gets closer that speculation could ramp up when it comes to certain players around the league.
With that seemingly somewhere in mind, SI.com's Mike Kadlick has named "6 trades we still want to see happen this offseason." One of the hypothetical deals has the Bears acquiring New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
"Kayvon Thibodeaux is a part of a crowded edge rusher group in New York, fighting for snaps alongside fellow first-round picks Abdul Carter and Brian Burns—and while general manager Joe Schoen told reporters at the NFL combine that he expects “big things” from the 25-year-old in 2026, a trade shouldn’t be off the table."
"The Bears were in on Maxx Crosby before his situation ultimately ended with him returning to the Raiders, and they've yet to truly address the edge rusher position this offseason. Trading for Thibodeaux, who's still on his rookie contract, would be yet another victory for Ryan Poles & Co. in Chicago."
Bears can give Kayvon Thibodeaux the change of scenery he needs
While Schoen did say he expects big things from Thibodeax next season, the Oregon product also doesn't appear to be part of the Giants' long-term plans. As he heads into the final year of his contract, set to play out his fifth-year option, there has been no buzz about an extension to keep him around.
Since posting 11.5 sacks in 2023, Thibodeaux has just eight sacks over the last two seasons as injuries have limited him to a total of 22 games over that span. But he has 70 quarterback pressures over those two campaigns (according to Pro Football Focus), and he earned the seventh-best run defense grade among edge defenders last season (80.7). That 2023 campaign is the only season out of four in his career where he has had more than 5.5 sacks.
Of course, the question any team with an interest in trading for Thibodeaux needs to answer, if they haven't already, is what the cost will be. Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News thinks it doesn't make sense for the Giants to trade him unless they get a significant offer. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, via the Cross Chop podcast, more recently indicated the Giants have a high asking price.
"They [the Cowboys] checked in on that around the Combine. That compensation was looking like either a first-round pick or either a two and a three. It's just not attainable."
The Giants very easily could have put a division rival tariff on their asking price for Thibodeaux when the Dallas Cowboys called. What other teams have found, or would find, the cost to be may be different (i.e., lower). Early this month, Connor Hughes of SNY cited sources who found if difficult to envision anyone being willing to give up more than a fourth-round pick.
The extra 2026 second-round pick, No. 60 overall, the Bears picked up in the DJ Moore trade could be an asset when it comes to making any trade. It also may not take parting with it to get Thibodeaux, if the Giants are realistic about it while acknowledging he's not envisioned as part of their future.
Read more: Analyst wonders if the Bears pursued a certain team regarding DJ Moore trade
Thibodeaux needs, and presumably would welcome, a change of scenery as he looks to bolster his value before hitting the free agent market next March. The Bears need a capable edge rusher, and the 25-year-old comes with no contractual commitment beyond next season. The fit looks ideal for both sides, but time will tell if it comes together in the coming weeks and months.