The 2025 NFL trade deadline came and went without any major fireworks for the Chicago Bears, and that’s exactly why they earn a solid B-. While fans hoped for splashier moves, the front office played it smart, avoiding the urge to overpay for short-term fixes in a season that’s still very much alive.
Yes, Chicago did make one move — acquiring edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka from the Cleveland Browns. Let’s be honest: this isn’t a game-changing addition. Tryon-Shoyinka is more of a rotational piece than a solution, but with the Bears thin at edge rusher, they needed another body. He provides depth, and at this point, that’s all they were looking for.
Don't look at Tyron-Shoyinka as a replacement for Dayo Odeyingbo. That's Austin Booker, who played really well last week. This is a replacement for Dominique Robinson.
The Bears resisted going all in, and that deserves praise. Would adding another star player have helped in the short term? Probably. But giving up premium draft capital with a couple long-term needs still looming would’ve been a mistake. Chicago’s front office likely knows they aren’t one piece away from a Super Bowl, and they’re wisely keeping their options open for the offseason. Building through the draft is always the best route unless you believe you're one player away.
For now, the Bears will ride with Montez Sweat and Austin Booker on the edge. Help could be coming soon, too — if Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson return from injury, it’ll give the defense a major boost down the stretch. Taking a look into free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. would be interesting as well. But with the NFC North still in reach, this was a calculated decision.
No panic. No overpaying. Just disciplined team-building — and that’s worth a B- in my book.
