Bears predicted to resolve big issue on defense with a trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Bears saw some major changes on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, but with Coby Bryant sustaining a likely season-ending injury, the Bears desperately need some more defensive back help.
But that's hardly all the Bears need as the regular season approaches. They have another big issue to fix on the defensive side of the ball, as their edge rusher depth is very questionable behind Montez Sweat.
ESPN's Dan Graziano predicts that Ryan Poles will get aggressive and swing a trade for another edge rusher to finally fix an issue they've been linked to all offseason.
Bears predicted to finally fix edge rusher problem with a trade
"Don't be surprised if ... the Bears still trade for an edge rusher," Graziano writes. "... Bears GM Ryan Poles has been an active and aggressive trader in his time with the team, and he'll turn over every rock he can, looking for an impact player up front."
The Bears are predicted to land a new edge rusher, and it shouldn't come as a surprise to any Bears fans. Poles isn't afraid to make a move, and considering the hole at edge rusher, a trade is a must for this team.
While they could sign a free agent like Haason Reddick, the Bears might be better off trying to land a good starter, whether it's a rental or multi-year option.
Behind Sweat, the Bears only have Dayo Odeyingbo, Jamree Kromah, Austin Booker, and Daniel Hardy. That is not nearly good enough at edge rusher.
The need became all the more apparent when they dealt Gervon Dexter, a good pass-rushing defensive tackle, to the Atlanta Falcons before 53-man rosters were initially set.
MORE: Why Falcons are trading for Gervon Dexter from Bears
Whoever it winds up being, the Bears really do need to find a way to upgrade their edge rusher room either by the start of the 2026 NFL season or by the November trade deadline.
While there are plenty of question marks in the secondary, if the pass rush can't generate much pressure, the Bears defense is going to have a tough time stopping any offenses this year.
An improved edge rusher room is a must-have for the Bears. Poles will need to scour rosters around the NFL for edge rushers who hit free agency next offseason on teams that might be willing to trade away their key players.
K'Lavon Chaisson, Dorance Armstrong, Kingsley Enagbare, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Zaven Collins, Myles Murphy, and Joshua Uche are a couple of names worth exploring.
Graziano is predicting that the Bears will add an edge rusher, regardless of who it is. It's a huge issue for the Bears, and hopefully, for their playoff odds, Graziano's prediction comes true.
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