Chicago Bears: 3 Cheap Deadline Trades They Could Make
By Erik Lambert
The Chicago Bears may or may not be ready to look towards the future. One thing is clear though. Their roster still needs help in key areas.
One question that’s been raised a number of times over the past few weeks is whether they’d consider making a trade. GM Ryan Pace doesn’t fear doing deals but he’s never done one for a player to this point. The deadline for this season is set to arrive at the end of October. So if there are plans for making a move, it will have to happen sooner than later.
Knowing Pace and how he operates it’s safe to say he’d be looking for potential bargain deals if he were to make any. He loves to take calculated risks on younger players in hopes some quality coaching and stability can get the most out of them. Do any such deals exist? Yes they do but it will depend on timing and price for one of them to happen.
Nate Orchard (EDGE, Cleveland Browns)
It’s such a shame what has happened to Orchard over the past couple years. In typical Browns fashion the young edge rusher has been undercut by constant coaching and scheme changes. His original defensive coordinator was replaced after his rookie year and then the replacement was himself replaced after last year. If that weren’t enough, the Browns shifted from a 3-4 scheme after two years to a 4-3. A system he was never considered a good fit for out of college.
Cost: 5th round pick
He looks like he needs a fresh start. The Bears need depth and youth for their pass rush. Leonard Floyd is their only player of 25 or younger at outside linebacker. Vic Fangio is a specialist when it comes to pass rushing linebackers. Orchard would fit their system well.
More from NFL Mocks
- NFL Draft: Ranking the top signal callers of the 2024 NFL QB Class
- 2024 NFL Mock Draft Journal: Cardinals, Falcons tank for USC QB Caleb Williams
- Patriots News & Rumors: Ezekiel Elliott talks fun in Foxboro; Mills to Packers?
- Fantasy Football: 5 reasons Colts QB Anthony Richardson can be a top-end option
- Packers’ Lukas Van Ness will make a Lambeau leap into the NFL in 2023
Eli Harold (EDGE, San Francisco 49ers)
Another case similar to Orchard. Harold is a 2015 edge rusher who was done in by coaching and scheme changes. He was drafted at 247 lbs to play outside linebacker in a 3-4. Also like Orchard he saw his defensive coordinator change every year he’s been in the league and then the scheme shift to a 4-3 this season. He was asked to put on 20 lbs that his frame doesn’t really hold well. The explosion and quickness he had at Virginia seems lagging at times.
Cost: 5th round pick
Harold might be an even more desirable target. He’s only 23-years old and might be a better athlete than Orchard. He’s found a way to still be productive despite playing heavy, but Chicago is more ideal for him at this point.
Dontrelle Inman (WR, Los Angeles Chargers)
It’s no secret the Bears are in dire need of help at wide receiver. Cameron Meredith and Kevin White are already done for the year. Kendall Wright, Deonte Thompson and Josh Bellamy are their top three at present. It’s hard to win football games with a cast like that. It remains surprising that the team hasn’t explored outside options. Dontrelle Inman was made available in August by the Chargers. The 28-year old is 6’3″ and had his best season in 2016 with 810 yards. He has some talent.
Cost: 7th round pick
At present Inman is an afterthought for Los Angeles. He has just two catches through three games and is stuck behind Keenan Allen and Tyrell Williams. That will get worse once 1st round pick Mike Williams returns. The Chargers have little use for him at this point.