3 and Out: 3 Bears Trade Targets
With the November 1st deadline nearing, and the most disappointing effort of the season in the rear view, options have opened up for a team in need
Following a surprising 2-1 start to the 2022 season, the Chicago Bears came back to Earth hard, losing their last three contests.
The most recent of these losses came in rather depressing fashion at home last Thursday against a then 1-win Washington team in front of a national audience that left that viewing of the Bears likely less confident in the team’s immediate future than they were entering the game.
Now sitting at 2-4, the Bears are one game behind the second-place Packers and three behind the first-place Vikings in the NFC North and this is with losses already having come to each team.
Time is ticking on the Bears if they’d still like any chance to invade the playoff scene in the NFC. A good step forward would occur if they can find a way to upend the 3-3 New England Patriots in Week 7 on Monday Night Football.
In order to do that, the Bears could use some roster reinforcements. It’s getting likely some will come in the form of former Patriot N’Keal Harry for Monday night, but beyond that even more can be done. Here, we look at a few players that could help the Bears turn things around if they choose to be buyers by the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
DJ Moore
The common saying goes that “less is more.” Well, in this case, Moore is more and by Moore, we mean wide receiver DJ Moore of the Carolina Panthers.
And by more, we refer to more offensive weaponry for quarterback Justin Fields and the Bears.
Moore, with his athleticism and constituency, would be a perfect fit for Chicago. The 24-year-old entered the league in 2018 and recorded 1000-yard seasons in three of his first four campaigns.
On top of all the talent Moore possesses, he is also an affordable prospect that is still under contract control through 2025.
The Panthers are a team in serious flux, they dismissed head coach Matt Rhule last week following the team's 1-4 start to the season and since then traded disgruntled wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals.
Many believe the next chips to fall in Charlotte include the moving of Pro Bowl running back Christian McCaffrey and Moore.
Chase Claypool
Staying with the wide receiver theme, the Pittsburgh Steelers may also be looking to deal away some of its offensive talent.
Pittsburgh was able to take down Tom Brady in Week 6 in one of the more surprising results of 2022, but that does not ensure they are on their way to the playoffs in a competitive AFC North that includes last year's AFC champion in the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens, led by 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson.
The Steelers' offense has quite a bit of firepower, but are in search of answers after an underachieving start under second-year play-caller Matt Canada.
One of Pittsburgh’s primary issues stems from the fact that they have two quarterbacks vying to become long-term starters, one an unproven rookie and the other a veteran who can’t convince anyone that he deserves the starting job.
Former Bear Mitchell Trubisky began the season as the starter but was taken out mid-game for rookie Kenny Pickett two weeks ago. The Pickett era seemed to be in effect but the rook suffered a concussion last Sunday against Tampa Bay and it was none other than Money Makin’ Mitch who came in to save the day and secure a victory over the Buccaneers.
With such uncertainty surrounding the Steelers, gaining new assets in the name of guys like Claypool, who’ll only be asking for more salary-cap draining funds in the near future, might be in the Steelers’ best interests.
Claypool is 24 and only under control through 2023 — he could be an immediate kick-start to the Bears’ attack after collecting 1958 yards along with 12 touchdowns since entering the league in 2020. Plus, the Packers reportedly want Claypool, so acquiring him would kill two birds with one stone.
Laremy Tunsil
Last. but certainly not least, we address what may be the most important area the Bears need to tend to.
Plenty of NFL pundits have said that shoring up the offensive line is what most needs to be done for Justin Fields to have maximum success in Chicago. Unfortunately the franchise has mostly done bargain spending throughout the offensive line since last drafting an O-lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft back in 2011 ( ).
Offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil has played six seasons with the Houston Texans and is highly regarded as one of the best blockers on the edge. Some even called for the Bears to make moves to acquire him in the ‘16 Draft.
After the rather controversial beginning to his pro career, Tunsil has been durable and reliable throughout his career, starting in at least 14 games every season until 2021, when he suffered a thumb injury that held him to just five games played.
The Texans, who the Bears downed in Week 3, are a definite work in progress with a 1-3-1 record.
Should the Bears find themselves with one of the three players above, it may not make them into immediate contenders but it could do a lot to jazz up the foundation general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have failed to impress anyone with thus far.
The 2022 NFL trade deadline comes November 1st at 4 PM Eastern.
Saul Rodriguez is WARR Media’s associate producer and lead Bears reporter