The NFL trade deadline is just three days away. Much of what happens for the Chicago Bears may be determined by the outcome of their game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. A win could compel them to make a move for some help. The lingering question is where? Most believe it would come somewhere on defense, either at cornerback or edge rusher. Both areas are decimated by injuries. However, the offense may also get some interest. The team has running back questions with D'Andre Swift now hurt. Their depth was always iffy.
It seems none of those directions is where Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report sees it going. He believes the odds are favorable that the Bears will instead seek help on the offensive line, particularly at tackle. It's well-documented that they have no definitive answer at left tackle. The solution? Well, take a look.
Chicago Bears: Acquire OL Evan Neal from the Giants
This after they already grabbed C.J. Gardner-Johnson on the open market. Braxton Jones is on injured reserve, while Theo Benedet has had issues at left tackle. Neal at least brings some experience and versatility, and the Bears can hope he gets a jolt in a new location, as the Giants have little reason to keep him around at this point. It's insurance for a late-round pick at the very least.
Neal was New York's 7th overall pick in 2022. He might be one of their biggest busts of the past quarter-century. In the previous three seasons, Neal allowed 12 sacks and 98 pressures in 1,157 snaps. It got so bad that the Giants moved him to guard this year, and he's yet to play a single snap. The only argument to be made is he would get a chance to play left tackle, which was his original position in college.
The Chicago Bears don't need another lost cause.
Nobody can pinpoint what went wrong with Neal in New York. He had tons of talent and had gotten great coaching at Alabama. Brian Daboll is a good offensive mind and understands how to develop linemen. Yet Neal was still a failure. The only explanation is that he never fully grasped how to make the switch to right tackle, which the Giants had asked him to do upon his arrival. Some blockers never develop the confidence when they move away from where they thrived in college.
If nothing else, such a trade would be dirt cheap for the Chicago Bears. They could probably land Neal for a late round pick in the 2027 draft without any issues. Even a pick swap is plausible. Much depends on whether head coach Ben Johnson or offensive line coach Dan Roushar believes there is anything salvageable. Braxton Jones just went on Injured Reserve, so that may open the door to something like this. Still, the odds are remote at best.
