Chicago Bears: 5 trades to flip offseason on its head

1. Trade Nick Kwiatkoski for mid-round pick

Back when the Bears drafted Nick Kwiatkoski in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, many thought he could be a starting linebacker in the future. As it turns out, the Bears went the route of guys like Jerrell Freeman, Danny Trevathan and now Roquan Smith.

Last year, though, Kwiatkoski looked ready to take that big step. He received the bulk of the first-team reps during training camp due to Smith’s holdout taking longer than expected. During camp and the preseason, most fans would agree that Kwiatkoski looked just fine as a starter and, if need be, the Bears would ride him the whole season if they had to.

Now, with Smith and Trevathan holding down the starting spots and Kwiatkoski’s contract set to expire after this season, he’s likely going to move on after 2019. He has worked his way to a starting-caliber player and should receive more money elsewhere next spring.

A team with a need at inside linebacker may bite if Pace put his feelers out there regarding Kwiatkoski. At this point, the Bears aren’t likely to return a fourth-round selection to match Kwiatkoski’s original round. But, let’s say they were to get an offer for a fifth-rounder? If I’m Pace, and I know how to draft in the mid-to-late rounds, I’m not saying no to that.