While the typical thought around the Chicago Bears has been addressing the defensive line, the Bears' biggest trade deadline need might actually be cornerback. They were able to beat the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle on Monday Night Football in Week 8. However, their cornerback room was exposed, and it is going to be something the team has to address in the next week.
Chicago Bears CB room is biggest trade deadline need
The team came into the season expecting to have a deep cornerback room. However, all of their options have struggled. Jaylon Johnson is a shell of his former self. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the best in the NFL, but he exposed Johnson in Week 8.
The issue is that this is not just a one-week thing against a great receiver. Johnson has been poor all season, and it is getting hard to trust him. Tyrique Stevenson has been up and down throughout his career, so seeing some downs this year is less surprising. Still, they only started him against Seattle because fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad was out due to an injury.
Muhammad has already emerged as the Bears' most trustworthy cornerback. Still, there is a good chance he will hit a rookie wall at some point, and he has already been banged up. They have Clark Phillips as depth, but he has not been trusted, and the Atlanta Falcons did not have interest in keeping him.
They are fine in the slot thanks to Kyler Gordon, but they have serious issues at cornerback on the outside.
The Bears already addressed the interior defensive line, but reports are that the team is still interested in Khalil Mack. However, their edge rusher room suddenly brings more promise than the cornerback room.
Montez Sweat returned from his suspension, but that bought the Bears some time to get Austin Booker and Daniel Hardy up to speed as strong rotational options. They also mix in James Lynch and Shemar Turner as oversized edge rushers who can defend the run.
None of their options are stars, but they have enough competent options that the room is deeper than expected. The cornerback room, on the other hand, is not as strong as expected. Do not be surprised if the Bears end up passing on Mack and still making a splash at the trade deadline. A cornerback would be their best addition. We will see if Week 8 changed their strategy.
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