NEWSLETTER
The NFL’s roster cut-down day is coming on Tuesday. This means that teams around the league are about to go on a trek toward trimming their rosters from 90 to 53 in the coming days. Some teams have already begun. Heck, the Bears did some roster maneuvering on Friday by putting Dante Pettis on IR and giving Joe Reed the waived/injured designation. So if you see an uptick in rumors surrounding players who could be moved off rosters, this is a major reason why.
A mini-hot stove season is upon us. And because the Chicago Bears have a number of high-profile needs, future cap space, and draft pick capital that can be moved in a deal, I expect them to be thrown into the mix in all sorts of rumors. Some might even make more sense than others. For instance, the chatter surrounding the Bears and their rumored interest in Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. Following this has been quite the journey:
ESPN’s Carmen DeFalco made it clear that he was *NOT* reporting the Bears-Chiefs Chris Jones trade chatter. Instead, DeFalco was simply relaying it as part of a larger discussion. So even though there is nothing imminent on the trade front, the additional context DeFalco provides to the situation is helpful in our greater understanding of the situation. And that is good because we could all use a bit of extra perspective in that regard this time of year.
Should the Bears Target a Chris Jones Trade?
The primary reason Chiefs DT Chris Jones is popping up in any kind of trade rumors is because he currently has an unresolved contract situation with Kansas City. The 29-year-old defensive tackle wants an extension and a raise to stick around K.C. — and with good reason, too. Jones is a four-time Pro Bowler who is coming off what might be his best season as a pro. Last year, Jones came away with 15.5 sacks, 29 quarterback hits, 17 tackles-for-loss, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery in a season in which he finished third in the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year vote. This is the type of player the Chiefs should want to keep around. And yet, it’s all quiet in that regard:
If the Bears *WERE* to make a splash trade before the start of the 2023 season, I see Jones as a more realistic target than Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Jones plays a more important position and fits the bill as the prototypical game-changing interior defensive lineman that makes the Matt Ebeflus-Alan Williams defense work. Pulling this off would be the 2023 equivalent of what then-GM Ryan Pace did in trading for Khalil Mack. Although, it isn’t a direct comp because Mack was two years younger than Jones. And the Bears were in a different place in their team-building process. But you can see where I’m coming from … right?
However, with that being said, I struggle to envision a scenario in which the Chiefs willingly trade their best defensive player in the heart of their championship window. And while I didn’t see the Tyreek Hill trade coming, I feel as if it is easier to trade from the receivers room in an offseason knowing that you can still use the draft to plug that hole than it is to cut a deal in August and find a worthwhile replacement for a defensive tackle like Jones.
Still, I enjoy talking through this entire exercise. If it came down to it, I’d see the Bears trading for Chris Jones would be a sign of faith in quarterback Justin Fields, head coach Matt Eberflus, defensive coordinator Alan Williams, and the overall direction of this franchise. In short, GM Ryan Poles swinging for the fences would push the Bears from “yeah, I can see them being in the playoff mix this year” to “this team is ready to make a push for bigger and better things than simply competing for a playoff spot.” Frankly, I’d be all for it (especially if the right type of deal is struck. But we have a long way to go before we get to this point. Nevertheless, I’m glad this is on our radar now.
