We have reached the point during the NFL offseason where a significant increase in trades can and will be processed around the league. This is all due to the Post June 1st designation these trades will have which enables NFL teams to spread out the dead cap charge on veteran players and their contracts for several seasons into the future. As a result, teams will be able to save big on otherwise costly contracts once the money is due.
Naturally there’s plenty of movement anticipated aside from the all-but-finalized
deal between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles for AJ Brown. Here’s some of our thoughts regarding players we’d like to see dealt and others we’d rather not entertain.
Question 1) Who do you want to see the Bears trade for / away after June 1st? And what is your proposed offer?
Gary Baugher Jr: Josh Sweat for an early to mid-round 2027 pick.
Josh Sunderbruch: In a “trade away” scenario, it would be nice to see the Bears get some value out of Tyson Bagent. Nobody bit on the all-too-obvious bait last offseason, but maybe this year could be different. I’d love a pick swap of a 4th for a 3rd, or maybe a 5th and a 2028 Conditional? If the Bears aren’t going to play Tyrique Stevenson, they should trade him now and get some sort of value out of him. In a “trade for” scenario, the answer is nobody. There are a lot of vet mercenaries waiting out training camp that would fill any perceived holes just fine. No reason to burn draft capital.
Donald Gooch: If the Bears do make a trade I’d like to see them go after Josh Sweat. I don’t think he would cost catastrophic draft capital; he fits the physical requirements for a DA defensive end, and he’s under control for three seasons.
Myself: In a perfect world, I am mostly entertaining the thought of the Bears landing a true difference maker at defensive end after making no such additions at any point this offseason. From what I understand, and following conversations with people very savvy about this business, I believe there is a legitimate chance Josh Sweat could be a Chicago Bear sometime in the near future. Josh Sweat would absolutely fit the bill as a difference maker at defensive end. I’m proposing a deal that’s identical for what the Eagles spent on Jonathan Greenard – a pair of third round picks.
Question 2) Who do you *not* want to see the Bears trade for — or away — after June 1st?
Gary Baugher Jr: The entire offensive side of the ball is untouchable to me, and that includes Cole Kmet (who wouldn’t be moved anyways due to the $ involved).
Josh Sunderbauch: I don’t want to see any pick from the first two rounds traded away. I don’t want to see the Bears trade for a receiver, a tight end, or special teamer. Other than that, I’m probably fine with anything, even if I’d prefer they kept the powder dry. On the other end, besides Top 60 picks still on their rookie deals or extensions, there’s nobody who should be immune to being traded away if the right deal came along.
Donald Gooch: It’s going to sound strange after I banged the drum for him in the offseason, but frankly, I don’t want to trade for Maxx Crosby. Not because he isn’t a talented player who would immediately upgrade the Bears’ pass rushing attack, but because he will cost too much in draft capital, he is on the wrong side of the age curve, and he’s been hurt in the last two seasons, and that has cost him significant playing time. As the saying goes, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. As for trading away a player, I am firmly against trading Kmet or Bagent unless we get knocked over by the trade value.
Myself: I’m doing both a “trading for” and a “trading away” answer here. It makes no sense to trade away Cole Kmet this year, as he’s paired with Colston Loveland as one of the top three tight end tandems in the entire league. While I don’t doubt the possibility of a move being made in 2027 or later, now is simply not the time to entertain this idea. I also do not want to see the Bears make a deal for Alvin Kamara – the Bears have a rock-solid backfield, and trades for running backs historically flop more often than pan out as successful deals.
Stay tuned for part two to be released later this afternoon!
