Trade idea for Bears to improve their offensive line |
Six weeks into the NFL season, the Bears are not only 4-2 but also in the middle of a six-game stretch where they theoretically could win all six or, at worst, four or five of six games. That alone should keep them in the playoff conversation most of the season, which is all you can ask for with a rookie quarterback at the helm.
The problem is that the rest of the division will be facing the same opponents as the Bears, and with the rest of the division sitting at 5-0, 4-1, and 4-2, the NFC North is the best division in football right now as all four teams have a shot at making it to the postseason. Eventually, these teams will start to play each other and start knocking each other off, but don't put anything past the Bears to stay competitive and make a run at some point this season. Although the bye week came at the perfect time for the Bears when you look at their injuries, they would've liked to see their bye week come a few weeks later and be closer to the middle of the season. Week seven off comes at a weird time, as they will return to the field around the trade deadline. That is what we will be discussing today, as the proposed question is whether or not the Bears could hit the trade market following the conclusion of their bye week. With no game this weekend, look for the Bears' coaching staff to pay attention to what is going on in the league, particularly players who may be available at the deadline. That is one of the benefits of having a bye earlier in the year, as it gives you a chance to watch football on your week off while studying your competition and some of the players who could be available soon. When you look at this roster and its current state, the Bears may be forced to trade for a DB because of the defensive injuries right now, but the offensive line could be an area they look to address yet again. Sure, the Bears' offensive line has continued to improve since early in the season, but they are not at the level they want to be just yet. Trading for a guy like Braden Smith could help, as he would be a massive addition and upgrade for this team. As you have seen throughout the season, keeping Caleb Williams upright is a huge key to his success, and for the most part, they have kept him upright the last three weeks. Unsurprisingly, the Bears have won those three games, as he is coming off a career-high four TD passes against the Jaguars last weekend. Smith would not only come in and start if the Bears made this move but would instantly improve this offensive line and make them one of the better units in football. Not only is Smith a durable OL with 85 career starts, but he has continued to be one of the better players in the game as he has graded out at 90.1% for his run blocking grade. That puts him inside the top 5% in the league, and for a team that wants to run the ball more consistently, you can bet that would be a massive help. Another reason this move makes sense for the Bears is the versatility factor. He can play Guard or Tackle, which allows the Bears to make several offensive line adjustments to put the best group out there. If one decision doesn't work, they can always try him at his other position, as that is the best part of being versatile. With the Colts sitting at 3-3 this season, they are still out of something, but with the Houston Texans leading the division at 5-1, they can't afford to fall too far behind. Despite playing at a very high level again this season, should the Colts fall to 3-5 after their next two games, they could become sellers in some aspect, and given Smith's contract of 70 million, he could be one of the guys they move for cap relief and draft asset help. Should they make this deal, taking on a big contract like that would require a lot of money to carry over, which is one of the concerns for the Bears. He is essentially owed close to eight million dollars the rest of this season before that increases to nearly 15 million next season. Smith may be worth the money, but despite having the available funds to spend, the Bears may be cautious about taking on that big contract. However, the kicker with his contract that could ultimately have the final say in whether or not the Bears make this trade is that none of the money owed to Smith is guaranteed. This allows the Bears to take on his contract this season and potentially trade or release him should it not work out in their favor. Nothing is set in stone at this point, but the Bears are expected to be active on the market again this season, and this could be a move they are looking to target.
