The NFL world is just hours away from the official trade deadline that is set to expire on October 31st at 4:00pm EST and all is quiet before the storm.

Last season, 19 trades were made before the NFL trade deadline, with 13 of those coming on the day of the deadline.

The Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was a part of three of those deals, both as a buyer and seller. What does the Bears expectations look like this time around with the 4:00pm window on Tuesday rapidly approaching?

Option 1: Become a Buyer

The Bears don't appear to be a team eager to land a major player at the deadline, given the current state of their organization. The team also has incentives not to make another trade for the sake of doing so like they did last season by acquiring wide receiver Chase Claypool from the Steelers.

However, for an organization in the midst of a rebuild process, the goal should rightfully be to acquire as much young star talent as possible. Usually that comes via the draft and hoping you hit on a draft prospect. I am in the belief that if a surefire young star is available, the only correct decision is to pursue that player instead of relying on the crapshoot in the NFL Draft.

Luckily for the Bears, there's a young star defensive talent that is ripe for the taking if Poles is willing to pay the price. Washington Commanders defensive end, and former Defensive Rookie of the Year, Chase Young has been the subject of multiple trade rumors since before the 2023 season even started.

Young is in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract after the Commanders elected to not pick up his 5th-year option, thus making Young an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2023 season. If the Commanders are certain they will not be able to retain Young, they will be searching heavily for a trade partner over the next few hours to take him of their hands.

The Bears could elect to play it safe if they want to pursue Young and enter into a bidding war with other teams during the offseason, or they can become the aggressors and strike a deal with the Commanders before the deadline closes to ensure they get the game wrecking 24-year-old.

Option 2: Be a Seller

The Bears roster is currently filled with a couple of key assets that could provide more value to other teams looking to make a playoff push.

The team elected to move on from two veteran defenders in 2022 in order to stock up on future draft picks at the deadline. Could the Poles follow that same approach within the next two days?

On October 16th, I mentioned three names the Bears should explore trading at the deadline. Of those three, two were defensive players on expiring contracts in cornerback Jaylon Johnson and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. 

Johnson appears to be adamant about working with the Bears front office in order to potentially agree upon a future long-term extension with the team. However, if those talks continue sour, Poles could ship Johnson off for a sizable return with three rumored contenders potentially interested in trading for the 24-year-old.

Ngakoue is another interesting name the Bears could float out to other teams. The late free agent signee is on a one-year deal that is easily tradable for a team looking to add a veteran presence off the edge on a short-term flier. If the Bears could squeeze a fourth-sixth round future pick out of a team, Poles should not hesitate to do so.

Option 3: Sit Tight

The last option for Poles and the Bears to make over the next few hours is definitely the least exciting. No one says the Bears need to make some sort of splash or rash decision ahead of the 4:00pm deadline tomorrow.

The Bears are currently in a good spot in terms of their rebuild and the future plans/assets that are already allocated to facilitate it. The Bears are currently equipped with 15 draft picks in the next two drafts, including potentially two in the top three selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.

If Poles wants to wait out the deadline and instead begin preparations for April's draft and dishing the money out instead during free agency, that's certainly a viable strategy. However, his aggressive tendencies might make him want to get involved in the frenzy if he proves to be too impatient to just sit by and let the deadline pass.

Time will tell what moves, if any, Poles will decide to make. That time is quickly starting to expire.

Current standing of Bears future draft assets ahead of the deadline

What do they have and what do they need?