Bears have 2 questions to answer at CB before the NFL trade deadline to determine what kind of move Ryan Poles should make
The Chicago Bears continue to be mentioned as one of the teams in the cornerback market ahead of the trade deadline, and what kind of move Ryan Poles should make comes down to two questions.
The last-minute trades are starting to flow in around the league and everyone in Chicago is wondering if general manager Ryan Poles has one more trip to the plate to take a swing before the Tuesday 4:00 p.m. ET deadline.
The wide assumption for about two weeks now (since the Jeffery Simmons trade) is that the Bears aren’t done yet and how the team has been sniffing around the cornerback market. The fact it’s still being mentioned even after the last two games leads me to believe the Bears are going to get another deal across the finish line.
The Bears still need help on the outside, and Jaylon Johnson’s pick-six on Sunday night doesn’t change that. However, what kind of move the Bears potentially make comes down to two questions that the front office and coaching staff need to collectively answer.
Do the Chicago Bears need depth at CB?
The first question comes down to whether or not the Bears feel like they have enough bodies at the position. This nearly got tested on Sunday night. The Bears entered the game without rookie Malik Muhammad II (missed his second straight game with a toe injury) and a banged up Tyrique Stevenson (was questionable with a thumb injury).
At one point during the game, Stevenson left the field with a hand injury along with slot cornerback Kyler Gordon. That left Chicago with Johnson and Clark Phillips III outside with starting safety Cam Lewis moving down to nickel and Elijah Hicks coming in at safety. Luckily, Gordon managed to return, as did Stevenson until he left the game again.
We still don’t know the extent of Stevenson’s injury. If the Bears simply believe they just need a cheap depth option to bolster the room, I see a trade happening for Nahshon Wright or Kristian Fulton involving a Day 3 pick swap.
There’s also a world where the Bears believe they’re fine depth-wise. Muhammad should be back after the bye week, Stevenson’s injury could not be that serious, and the eventual return of Coby Bryant will allow Lewis to become a depth piece as well.
Do the Chicago Bears need talent at CB?
If the Bears aren’t too worried about the depth at cornerback, then it’s the talent they do have that they are worried about. Which is valid looking at the coverage stats the Bears have allowed this season (and allowed last season). The main concern for this unit is covering the deep ball.
Ideally, right now, the plan is that the Simmons-boosted pass rush can hit home quick enough to avoid the big shots down the field. Yet, we still saw JSN torch Stevenson last week and Tez Johnson torch Gordon on Sunday night. This team needs downfield speed.
After Week 9, the Bears have now allowed 16 receptions (second-most), 673 yards (most) and six touchdowns (most) on throws of 20+ air yards. Since acquiring Simmons, the Bears have still allowed two such receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. That’s not going to fly against the Detroit Lions (twice) or the Green Bay Packers, or other teams with speedy outside threats.
If we’re saying talent is the issue, then Poles needs to pay a little more for someone who can bring elite speed on the outside like Riq Woolen, Deonte Banks, or even Donte Jackson.
We’ll see what move the Bears decide to make. And it’ll be worth checking back after the potential addition to see which question ended up being the bigger issue.
