The Chicago Bears had a successful 2025 season, but they are also naturally among the 31 teams for whom it won't end happily. But for the first time in a very long time, they have the look of a contender for years to come.
The Bears' position makes it easy to get impatient and stray from the process when it comes to offseason moves. Head coach Ben Johnson's Detroit Lions roots could prevent that kind of mortgaging of future assets for a big "win-now" move in any offseason, but, by the same token, some calculated aggression could fit into this offseason's plan.
And this offseason, with a number of notable free agents on that side of the ball, the defense is lined up to be the top priority for the Bears.
Writer offers bold offseason trade idea for the Bears
Recent developments have put a big offseason trade target on the radar for the Bears and multiple other teams. Along similar lines but in a different direction, Mongo Peanut of Windy City Gridiron has offered a bold offseason prediction for the Bears.
"I think the Bears trade for Dexter Lawrence — by sending Tyrique Stevenson and picks."
"Let’s first take a look at it from the Bears side. Dexter Lawrence is one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, and has long been the heart and soul of the New York Giants defense. The Bears currently lack talent along the defensive interior. Gervon Dexter has been inconsistent despite strong sack totals for a DT, and Grady Jarrett was a letdown after signing a big deal in the offseason."
Peanut also took a look at the deal from the Giants' side, sighting how Stevenson fits the template of "long and aggressive defensive backs" that new head coach John Harbaugh seems to favor.
After registering a career-high nine sacks in 2024, Lawrence had just half a sack this season. But a deeper look shows he was better than that dismal sack total showed, with the seventh-best PFF pass rush grade among defensive tackles (84.5) and a top-10 pass rush win rate at the position.
Lawrence also dropped off as a run defender this season, with 57.0 PFF that was barely top-60 among defensive tackles. But one rough season, where he may have still been dealing with the elbow injury that shortened his 2024 season, and he dealt with rampant double teams, does not erase his resume as one of the best defensive tackles in the league.
It's incredibly unlikely the Giants will trade Lawrence, but Connor Hughes of SNY has reported "it can't be ruled out". Hughes also cited a front office source who put Lawrence's trade value at "a second-round pick and another mid-rounder." So maybe it wouldn't take parting with Stevenson, or he can be substituted for one of the hypothetical draft picks.
Read more: Super Bowl RB thought (and hoped?) his draft call was coming from the Bears
Bears general manager Ryan Poles, in concert with Johnson, should not rule much of anything out for this offseason right now. Checking on Lawrence's availability would be base-level due diligence in an effort to bolster the defensive line, and maybe the price will be right.