Chicago Bears Could Take Advantage Of Rumored Fire Sale

The NFL trade deadline has become far more active in recent years as young general managers embrace the idea of tweaking their rosters with calculated moves. Ryan Poles is no stranger to this. He was active last year, unloading Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn for draft picks while acquiring Chase Claypool from Pittsburgh. Obviously, that got mixed results for the Chicago Bears. Still, Poles isn't likely to get gun-shy. If the right deal comes along that could improve his team, he will explore it.

One thing the deadline tends to bring is acceptance by bad teams that they aren't going anywhere. The best thing for them to do is unload players they don't see a future with and stockpile future assets. According to James Palmer of NFL Network, one team trending in that direction is the Denver Broncos. At 1-4, their season is going nowhere. New head coach Sean Payton wants to hit the reset button, but he needs draft picks to do so. That means almost everybody on that roster could be available.

Chicago isn't in a position to be aggressive at the moment. They, too, are 1-4. However, a couple of wins over the next two weeks might convince Poles to go hunting for more help. There is one name on the Broncos roster they should be interested in.

The Chicago Bears could make great use of Jerry Jeudy.

The former 1st round pick hasn't had a breakout season yet, but he's been steadily productive since his rookie season in 2020, with 2,503 yards in 45 games. He's known for being a precise route runner with good hands and speed. Denver's issues with coaching and quarterbacks have held him back. Perhaps a fresh start elsewhere would be good for him. The idea of teaming him with D.J. Moore sounds appealing. Don't forget Darnell Mooney is a free agent after this season. Jeudy is under contract through 2024.

As always, it comes down to cost. The Chicago Bears won't be the only team interested in Jeudy. That could make his price high. His contract makes a 1st round pick unlikely. That means a 2nd round pick is the likely territory. Some fans may not like that after what just happened with Claypool. There is a good chance the Bears' 2nd rounder will be within the top 10 spots. They already got burned doing that once. Such concerns are fair.

At the same time, Chicago has two 1st round picks. They could easily maneuver for more if they also end up being as high as expected. This is something to contemplate. Much will depend on how the next two games unfold.