The Chicago Bears are once again facing the reality that they are not a competent football team. It's been two years of this frustration, and this time, things might actually change in a big way.
The 2024 offseason is a pivotal one for this franchise, and could see a whole lot of changes coming. General manager Ryan Poles has a mountain of decisions in his future, and fans aren't exactly sure he'll get them right.
As this season's trade deadline passed, fans wondered whether or not the Bears would sell. They ended up opting not to deal any of their significant trade candidates, but that doesn't mean they won't try in the coming offseason.
These five players could very well be dealt next spring.
1. Cody Whitehair, G/C
In all likelihood, the Bears will wind up releasing Cody Whitehair. His contract allows the Bears to cut him and save $9 million in the process. That seems like an easy decision, especially considering how far his play has fallen over the past couple of years.
There is always the possibility of the Bears trying to seek out a pick swap, though, at the very least. If Chicago could flip Whitehair and a seventh-round pick for a late sixth rounder, even, that would be a success.
Again, there is a much better chance of Whitehair being released in the end. He has not been the player he once was when voted to a Pro Bowl, nor even close to being a competent lineman on a consistent basis. His time in Chicago is up, and the Bears will go younger to try and rebuild that interior line.