3 players the Bears wish they could swipe from NFC North rivals before the season at positions of need
The Chicago Bears are on break for the summer until training camp starts up in late July, so let’s go through an interesting discussion that stacks up the Bears with the rest of the NFC North.
We have officially reached the dog days of the summer with the Chicago Bears currently on the six-week break until training camp starts in late July. While the players are on break, the front office and coaching staff continues to evaluate the 91-man roster.
Today, we’re going to do the same but in a very different fashion. Following the blueprint laid out by our A to Z Green Bay writer Wendell Ferreira, we’re going to chose one player from each of the other three teams to add to Chicago’s roster (he stole LG Joe Thuney from Chicago for context).
Note, this is purely hypothetical and we’re going to ignore cap restrictions. We’re simply going to steal the best player from the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings at a position that could put the Bears over the top in 2026. Let’s get into it.
Detroit Lions: OT Penei Sewell
There was multiple ways I could have gone with who I stole from the Detroit Lions. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs was a close second to reunite with his former offensive coordinator in Ben Johnson and replace D’Andre Swift. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson were also players in consideration.
Ultimately, I decided to go with offensive tackle Penei Sewell just like Ferreira did with the Packers. Yes, the Bears have a rising star at right tackle in Darnell Wright, which is why I’m going the same route the Lions are going in 2026 and moving Sewell over to left tackle with Wright on the right side.
That would be a monstrous 1-2 tackle combination with two players that play a very similar style of game. It would also alleviate Chicago’s long-term need at the left tackle position, which is currently an open battle between Braxton Jones, Jedrick Wills, Theo Benedet, and Kiran Amegadjie while Ozzy Trapilo recovers from his injury. I’m sure Sewell would likely be Johnson’s first choice off his former team as well.
Green Bay Packers: DE Micah Parsons
This was an easy call. Looking at the Green Bay Packers roster, the team really only has a handful of solid to elite players in edge rusher Micah Parsons, quarterback Jordan Love, safety Xavier McKinney, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, tight end Tucker Kraft, and wide receiver Christian Watson.
The only player I view as a real upgrade over what Chicago currently has at those positions is Parsons and it’s not even close. Parsons is a game-wrecker and the exact kind of player the Bears should have been looking to add to the defense since last year.
Even coming off an ACL injury, the Bears could open the season with Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo off the edge and then really go QB hunting when Parsons returns. That one addition would easily make this team a Super Bowl contender.
Minnesota Vikings: WR Justin Jefferson
I tried not to go with the obvious one here and instead try to add to a position of need, but the answer has to be Justin Jefferson when deciding who to steal from Minnesota.
The Bears are well put together at the wide receiver position with Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, and Jahdae Walker. Adding Jefferson to that group would be lethal, especially with Johnson calling plays and Caleb Williams throwing the ball.
It’s honestly even hard finding a runner-up on the Vikings roster. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw would be an upgrade over what Chicago currently has and Byron Murphy Jr. would be exciting in this defensive scheme at nickel with the injury situation surrounding Kyler Gordon.
The easy answer, however, is often the best answer. Jefferson is one of the top wide receivers in the game and would make Chicago’s offense borderline unstoppable.