The Chicago Bears didn't make a splash at the NFL trade deadline. It wasn't for lack of trying. GM Ryan Poles wasn't naive. He knew his team needed help on defense, especially the defensive line. He'd been working the phones for days, trying to find a deal that made sense. It got close. Word came out that they were deep in talks with the New York Jets about former 1st round pick Jermaine Johnson. It made sense. The Jets were clearly in sell mode after dealing away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. However, the talks became bogged down when New York wouldn't budge from their asking price of a 2nd round pick.
As it turns out, there was an extra wrinkle involved. A source informed SM that the Jets were trying to get sneaky in talks. They kept pushing to include running back Breece Hall in the talks regarding Johnson. They felt that doing this would justify them asking for a 1st round pick in return. That was their endgame. Poles didn't feel any need to want Hall after watching Kyle Monangai gash Cincinnati for 176 yards a few days prior. The Bears held firm on their offer for Johnson and Johnson only.
New York got cold feet.
Jermaine Johnson wasn't worth that level of commitment.
While he and Breece Hall are good players, neither is great. First round picks must be reserved for what you feel will be great players. Chicago developed a bad habit over the past decade of dealing away those picks for proven veterans. It didn't work out too well. Poles, for all the grief he gets, is smart enough to avoid doing that. He's been keeping his 1st round picks since taking over and has done a pretty good job converting them into quality young talent.
Jermaine Johnson is not nearly good enough to justify interrupting that pipeline, even with Hall included. It was the right decision by the Bears. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka might not be a star, but he was inexpensive and provides solid enough depth to survive until reinforcements arrive in a few weeks. Then they can spend the 2026 offseason bringing in real help.
