There is a gut feeling now that Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles might start getting a bit more active in the trade market.
It was already reported that Poles and the Bears called about Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea before he signed his contract extension. Even in the offseason, Poles admitted that the Bears called about Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
A new report says the Bears are actively shopping defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. If the Bears pull that trade off, they might have another option to consider.
Could the Bears look at Pittsburgh Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. in a trade?
Bears fans have probably heard by now that the Pittsburgh Steelers are open to trading cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Pittsburgh and Porter haven't had any luck with contract extension talks, so the two sides are on the verge of a split.
This has led some to think about which NFL teams would be in on trading for Porter. Bleacher Report writer Alex Kay suggested the Bears as an option.
"The Chicago Bears go into the 2026 NFL season with hopes of building on a promising 11-6 campaign. Trading for Joey Porter Jr. would greatly assist in that endeavor, adding a top-flight corner to a roster that nearly reached the NFC Championship Game last year.
After ranking bottom-five in total defense and allowing a whopping 32 touchdowns through the air last year, Chicago brought in several veterans—including projected starter Coby Bryant—to reinforce the safety position. While that should help shore up one of the weak points in the secondary, the club could still heavily benefit from adding a Pro Bowl-caliber corner.
The Bears do have one standout corner already in Jaylon Johnson, although he's maintained that 2026 is a contract year for him despite still having two seasons left on the four-year, $76 million deal he inked following a breakout 2023 campaign. With Johnson's future with the organization uncertain, Chicago's brass could get ahead of a potential disastrous situation by acquiring Porter and locking him up on a long-term extension."
Porter was a former second-round pick of the Steelers in 2023. He has racked up 165 tackles, 31 pass deflections, three interceptions, three tackles for loss, and one sack in 47 games. Porter hasn't allowed a completion percentage higher than 62.8% in a season, and that 2024 season was the only time he even allowed over 50%.
Kay had suggested this trade package between the Bears and Steelers to involved Porter:
Pittsburgh Steelers receive: 2027 second- and sixth-round draft picks
Chicago Bears receive: CB Joey Porter Jr.
If Bears fans are being honest, Porter would be a great asset to the team, but is Poles really willing to trade a second-round pick? Poles has talked at length about how much he values building the roster through the draft. It's questionable as to whether he would be willing to do that.
Poles would rather trade players on the roster to acquire future draft picks than add someone who will likely be expensive to extend. The Bears could use Porter as a one-year rental, but he would probably prefer to go to a team that will give him a contract extension.
As to the questions about Johnson, if he plays well in 2026, the Bears would much prefer to extend him and keep him. He was a Bears draft pick, and Poles wants to keep guys who have contributed to the team since being selected.
Read more: Bears might be considering the biggest Gervon Dexter mistake they could make
Porter's concept is nice, and there's no doubt he would come right into Chicago and be a difference-maker. Ultimately, though, this doesn't feel like a Poles move at all, so they would probably pass on this trade.
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