Trade proposal for 2-time Pro Bowler would fix Bears' biggest problem

There are a few positions the Chicago Bears could address that would put them over the top for a Super Bowl appearance, but one could help more than the others.

One of those is on the defensive line, with the edge rushers not addressed. While Bears general manager Ryan Poles added a ton of depth to the defensive tackle position, none of the new guys are starter-quality. The Pewter Plank's Josh Crysler suggested that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have a guy the Bears would be interested in trading for: defensive tackle Vita Vea.

"The Bears did sign Neville Gallimore in free agency, and while he was a very effective pass rusher for the Colts, his PFF run defense grade ranked 100th out of 134 qualifying players. It’s unlikely he’s the fix the Bears need as the anchor of their defensive line. They didn’t address defensive tackle until the sixth round of the NFL Draft, and while Jordan van den Berg is a high upside player, he’s a raw, developmental prospect.

Chicago plays in one of the most highly-contested divisions in the NFL with the Packers, Lions, and Vikings. If the Bears want to build on their 11-6 season and go on another deep playoff run, bolstering the run defense would go a long way. The Bears should pick up the phone and see if they can put together an offer that forces the Bucs to consider trading Vea ahead of his contract year."

Should the Bears look into Vita Vea before the 2026 season?

Honestly, it's not a bad option for the Bears to look at if they want to add a veteran who has played at a high level for a while. The good thing about Vea is that he's not just a run stopper at nose tackle, as he can add pressure to the quarterback as well.

Last season, Vea was seventh among interior defensive linemen in pressures with 51, while also adding 34 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two pass deflections, and one fumble recovery in 17 games. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 72.8, ranking 20th out of 134 interior defensive linemen eligible.

Vea is a two-time Pro Bowler in 2021 and 2024 and is widely regarded as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. His massive size makes him a nightmare to block, but more importantly, his ability to rush the pass from the defensive tackle position is so impressive compared to what the Bears have right now.

Pairing Vea with Gervon Dexter would give the Bears exactly what they need on the defensive line, while taking the pressure off Grady Jarrett and could just make him a rotational guy. That would give Chicago everything they have been needing on the defensive line.

Two concerns come with Vea for 2026. The first is that he is in the final year of his contract and will have a $22 million cap hit this year, which would leave the Bears needing to make roster moves to create cap space. Another issue is that the cost of Vea might be steep even if it is just a Day 2 pick to get it done. Poles values his draft picks, so it might be too much to ask him to give up a second or third round pick for Vea.

Chicago should 100% pick up the phone and call for Vea, even if he is just a one-year rental to help give the defensive line the boost it desperately needs.

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