The Chicago Bears got a huge win on Monday night. At 3-2, they’re officially still in the playoff race. Winning that game was critical to keep pace in the NFC North — one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. But the victory may have also opened up a few new paths for General Manager Ryan Poles, including the possibility of a trade.
With D’Andre Swift’s breakout performance against the Commanders and undrafted rookie Theo Benedet impressing at left tackle, the offensive line looked as good as it has all season. Because of that, a move for a running back might not be as necessary as it seemed just a week ago.
However, there are still other areas the Bears could look to upgrade — most notably at edge rusher. Austin Booker is expected back next week after missing Monday’s game, which should provide a boost, but Montez Sweat still hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations that came with trading a second-round pick for him. To be fair, he played well against Washington, but adding another veteran to the mix could make sense.
Will the Bears make a move before the deadline? Could it happen even sooner? The win against Washington might speed things up a bit, but the door is officially open — and Poles has shown he’s not afraid to be aggressive. It’ll be fascinating to see how he handles the next few weeks, with the Bears in a “win-now” mindset despite this being Ben Johnson’s first season. With Caleb Williams still on his rookie deal, the time to strike is now.
