Trade Watch: Bears linked to three more trade deadline names |
Dustin Riese
· · 8 hours ago
It's hard to believe that we are almost 33% of the way through the NFL season. That is what happens when you only play an 18-week season, as this week marks the 1/3 mark of the regular season. Soon enough, we will be at the midway point of the NFL season, and that alone holds plenty of merit as the NFL trade deadline takes center stage during that time.
The deadline may not resemble those of the NBA or MLB when it comes to the activity taking place, but it's still an important day, as it allows many teams to either improve their roster for the remainder of the season or set themselves up for future success. As things stand, the Bears are somewhat in the middle, as they would not only love to build for the future, but should they remain in contention, will almost certainly add some pieces to this team. What those pieces are and where they come from remain to be seen, but one thing is for certain. This team has some holes to fill, and the longer they wait to fill those holes, the less likely they are to complete the job. Two of the most significant holes on this roster remain the rushing attack on offense and a reliable pass rush that is capable of producing pressure. Getting Austin Booker back in the coming days should help with that, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from rolling around, as the Bears are being linked to two new defensive names capable of adding to this roster. The first of those names is former first-rounder in the New York Jets EDGE rusher Jermaine Johnson, who could be on the move. As surprising as it would be for the Jets to move on from him, they are a 0-5 football team, and with several players expected to get massive raises next season, you could see them cut their losses before they get to that point. Johnson is one of the players who could find himself in that mix, which is why a possible trade is forthcoming. The 6-5 and 254-pounder is the ideal size you look for in an edge rusher, as he would instantly improve a defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in sacks. After playing a rotational role in 2022, Johnson moved to a full-time starter in 2023 and put together a strong season en route to a Pro Bowl berth. During the 2023 season, Johnson finished with 7.5 sacks, adding 56 Quarterback pressures to go with it. He also found a way to come down with seven pass deflections at the line and even came away with a pick-six. That was about all of the excitement he has shown thus far as he was limited to just one game in 2024 before rupturing his Achilles, thus ending that season. Despite that, the Jets loved his body of work and elected to pick up his fifth-year option ahead of the 2025 season, as he now has two years remaining on his deal. Considering the Jets' current standing as a franchise, they may not want to exercise the fifth-year option, which is where a trade becomes a viable option. The Dennis Allen scheme would be the perfect fit for Johnson. Speaking of players who fit perfectly with the Allen scheme, why not go after someone who knows the scheme better than anyone, as Cam Jordan has emerged as a legitimate trade option? Ranked dead last in terms of their run defense, Jordan would not only shore up that aspect of their defense, but is also someone who knows how to get after the quarterback, which alone would improve this defense overnight. A bit older than your ideal target, Jordan is someone who has played for Allen for most of his career, and the success he has had in that system makes him an intriguing option at the deadline. At 36 years old, the 6-4, 287-pounder is seeing his career come to an end, but it has been a decorated career that will likely earn him some Hall of Fame recognition. Through four games, he has 2.5 sacks, which is more than Sweat and Odeyingbo have combined, and has always been someone capable of putting up double-digit sack seasons. Granted, that hasn't happened since 2021, but his age does have some effect on that. Despite that, he is still a productive player and one who could help turn the Bears' defense around. While the pass rush continues to be an issue, the rushing attack on offense is a massive concern, as the Bears have one of the worst rushing attacks in the league. That is surprising, considering Ben Johnson's track record, but if you ask him, he hasn't reached the point where he is concerned yet. The fans, on the other hand, are concerned, and you have to wonder if Ryan Poles is starting to monitor the running back market to help jumpstart this unit. You have already heard names like Alvin Kamara, Breece Hall, Rico Dowdle, and several others as possible fits for Chicago, but don't be shocked to see the Bears pull the trigger on a different player with some history in Chicago. According to USA TODAY's Brendan Sugrue, running back Raheem Mostert has been listed as a likely trade candidate, with the Bears being one of the top teams expected to go after him. The longtime journeyman is approaching his mid-30s, but with 11 years of NFL experience, he can still offer valuable touches to someone. Mostert may not be the same player he was several seasons ago, when he took the league by storm with the Dolphins, but he still manages to secure contracts, with the Raiders picking him up for just over $ 1.5 million this season. With Ashton Jeanty being the top back in Vegas, touches have been hard to come by for Mostert, but with 62 yards on four carries, his big-play ability is still there. Mostert is approaching 4000 yards on the ground for his career and 40 touchdowns as he has proven to be one of the better backups in the game. He is also someone with previous experience in Chicago, although he missed his entire season with the Bears due to a knee injury. Buckle up, Bears fans, things could get really interesting with this team soon.
