After the first offseason with head coach Ben Johnson was focused on fixing issues on the offensive side of the ball, this focus of this offseason for the Chicago Bears has been on defense. The draft is the next big opportunity to add talent there, with multiple needs to consider bolstering.
Of course the Bears are also in position to make a bold move if an opportunity comes, and if it makes sense of course. The extra second-round pick they got from the Buffalo Bills in the DJ Moore trade puts general manager Ryan Poles in position to consider all kinds of possibilities in more than a cursory way.
A sneaky need for the Bears heading toward the draft lies at cornerback, with Jaylon Johnson coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season and Tyrique Stevenson entering the final year of his contract. If nothing else, depth this season and moving forward is a concern.
In-draft trade idea would undoubtedly fix big problem for the Bears
Besides his contract status and an outsized current projection of his market value, Stevenson's inconsistent performance is an issue for the Bears. If they had a viable option to replace him as the starter opposite Johnson, it would be nice.
With that idea clearly in mind, as he offered a player each NFC team should trade for during the upcoming draft, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports has offered a cornerback who could (should?) be on the Bears' radar.
"Acquire: CB Denzel Ward from the Cleveland Browns
Cost: 2026 third-round pick (89th), 2027 fifth-round pick"
"They (the Bears) need help all over their defense, including at edge rusher. But upgrading at cornerback might be their biggest priority. Ward is a five-time Pro Bowler who is still only 29, and the Browns would be smart to dump the remaining two years on his contract to free up some salary cap space. Ward could either be the Bears’ third corner or step in for the erratic Tyrique Stevenson. It would also free up the Bears to target a defensive lineman early in the draft. And with two second-round picks, they’ve got the Day 2 ammunition to get him."
Ward is a five-time Pro Bowler, including each of the last three years. He had just one interception last season, and his Pro Football Focus grades have been average to subpar since 2021, but those marks have never really fully reflected how good he is. In 2024, he led the league with 19 pass breakups.
Of course, trading for Ward would have financial implications, given two years left on his contract. According to Spotrac and a spin with their trade machine, the Bears would take on $19.9 million this year and $20.5 million in 2027 if they traded for him. They don't have anywhere near that kind of 2026 cap space at the moment, but they can create it way easier than you might think.
As for his on-field fit with the Bears, Ward has primarily played left cornerback the last few seasons, but in 2022, his snaps were split almost equally between the left and right sides. In 2024, when he was last fully healthy, Johnson actually played more snaps on the right side than he did on the left. So there should be no issue pairing the two, as they can both play either side and give defensive coordinator Dennis Allen options.
Read more: Toolsy edge rusher looks to be a very nice late-round draft fit for the Bears
The best part about this idea of the Bears trading for Ward is not having to give the Browns the aforementioned extra second-round pick from the Moore trade. If that is possible in any kind of notable trade during the draft, Poles should take the opportunity without batting an eye.