Chicago Bears NFL Draft Preview: Trade candidates who could help Chicago deal with a top heavy draft class
The Chicago Bears have some clear needs to address in the 2026 NFL Draft on the defensive line and could even explore trading for current NFL standouts to address those spots if they’re not impressed by the rookie class.
As the Chicago Bears get set for the 2026 NFL Draft next week, all options are on the table when it comes to what positions the team will look to address and what avenues the team explores to acquire talent.
The glaring weakness for this team is on the defensive line. The Bears need more impact players that can attack the quarterback and defend the run both off the edge and on the interior.
General manager Ryan Poles noted the draft is deep at the EDGE position and will look to use that to his advantage. The DT position, however, is very top heavy in this class with the top option being Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald and Clemson’s Peter Woods, both of which have obvious concerns when it comes to being options for Chicago.
Luckily, the Bears have another way to acquire a new addition on the interior using 2026 draft picks. Let’s take a look at a couple trade targets the Bears could consider.
1. Dexter Lawrence
This is the big name everyone has been talking about the last few days. Dexter Lawrence and the New York Giants have reached the point of no return in contract talks and the Giants have started reaching back out to interested teams to explore a trade.
Such a deal appears imminent either before, or during, the draft next week. It’s not going to be a cheap one either. Some reports say the Giants will be asking for a Quinnen Williams-like return (first and second-round picks) while ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes the price could be cheaper than that (just one second-rounder). What isn’t cheap is the eventual contract Lawrence will ask for, which will be at least $28 million per year.
For a player coming off a down year, it’s easy to see why teams should be hesitant. But, if the Bears want to make an all-in move, this is the move to make.
2. Moro Ojomo
A cheaper option for Chicago would be Moro Ojomo. Jalen Carter has been the talking point this offseason out of Philadelphia to see if the Eagles would part ways with their former first-round pick before handing him a massive extension. The Bears already passed on Carter once and I don’t see general manager Ryan Poles being interested a second time.
However, if the Eagles keep Carter in the fold alongside Jordan Davis, another one of the team’s defensive tackles becomes an expendable option in Moro Ojomo. The Eagles drafted Ojomo in the seventh-round of the 2023 NFL Draft, meaning he’s up for a new deal as well after the 2026 season. He’s coming off a 6.0 sack season after getting an up-tick in snaps once Milton Williams walked in free agency. There’s a lot of upside there and he’ll be a lot cheaper than Lawrence.
3. Daron Payne
There was a time in which Daron Payne was a top trade target name and would have been an expensive player to acquire out of Washington. Instead, the Commanders parted ways with Montez Sweat (Chicago) and Chase Young (49ers). Now that a few years have gone by, the price has lowered for the player that’s still only 28-years-old.
Payne has regressed since his 2022 Pro Bowl season and is coming off a 3.0 sack season. The Commanders only have six picks to work with in the 2026 NFL Draft and need to start stacking up younger talent. Washington could even eat some of his 2026 salary to push the trade through and lower his hit for Chicago (the Bears would still need to make some restructures to absorb his contract).
4. Josh Sweat
Not a defensive tackle, but Josh Sweat is an edge rusher trade option if the Bears end up missing out on all of their other options in the draft. There was a rumor Sweat wants out of Arizona after the team fired head coach Jonathan Gannon, who later joined the Green Bay Packers as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Not only would acquiring him give the Bears an impact edge rusher opposite another Sweat, it’ll also prevent the Packers from adding him opposite Micah Parsons. Personally, I believe Sweat is a much older player than what the Bears should be looking to add to the position. This would be more of a post-draft solution if Chicago walks out of next weekend with a top rookie addition.
