Trade Number 3: The Bears get a potential future defensive cornerstone
Finally, we look at a deal between the Bears and the Buffalo Bills, who were another team rumored to be in on Johnson. The Bills have a lot of depth off the edge on defense, and this is where the Bears could take advantage. Buffalo has Gregory Rousseau, Von Miller, Leonard Floyd and A.J. Epenesa as their top four edge rushers.
Epenesa, specifically, is in the last year of his rookie contract and could be a great candidate for the Bears to not only trade for, but extend. Epenesa is playing like he's in the final year of his contract, too, as he's been on the field for just 44 percent of defensive snaps yet has totaled 5.0 sacks on the year.
Epenesa is coming off a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2022, which he is on pace to shatter this season. A former second-round pick out of Iowa, Epenesa is finally coming into his own as one of those physical, tough, Big Ten pass rushers.
Having just turned 25, Epenesa has plenty of years left in his prime and could be exactly what the Bears need to start building up their trenches. Chicago has long-needed an established pass rusher, and Epenesa is an ideal target.
Not only do the Bears get Epenesa, but they get a third rounder next year as well. The Bills, meanwhile, get Johnson and a sixth rounder in 2025.