The Chicago Bears are in the midst of a bye week after a 2-2 start to the season. The break allows the Bears to take stock of their roster, needs, and areas of improvement. One of the most obvious points of emphasis for the Bears has to be the run defense.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's unit allows a league-worst 164.5 rushing yards per game and a miserable 6.1 yards per carry. The biggest reason for the struggles is the defensive line play. The Grady Jarrett signing hasn't worked out so far, and neither Andrew Billings nor Gervon Dexter is performing to expectations. This creates an obvious need for upgrades at defensive tackle.
Bears Sign DT Christian Wilkins Before Bye Week Ends
After the bye week, there will be less than a month before the NFL trade deadline, meaning that if the Bears want to make a trade, they need to act with urgency. Trades in the NFL are easier said than done, and most of the time, you can find similar value among unsigned free agents. In fact, there is a high-upside flier among free agents who would be an excellent fit in Chicago.
Standout defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is still looking for his new team after his time with the Las Vegas Raiders came to an abrupt and controversial end over the summer. The organization and the 29-year-old defender had a fallout over the best way to rehab Wilkins' foot injury, resulting in the veteran's release only a season after signing a four-year, $110 million deal.
On paper, Wilkins' fit is obvious. He has consistently been one of the best run-stuffers in the league. Before he suffered the season-ending Jones fracture after five games last season, Wilkins had an 80.2 run defense grade and a 74.7 overall defensive grade on Pro Football Focus. He also had two sacks, 17 tackles, six QB hits, and two tackles for loss. He is the exact type of playmaker on the interior defensive line that the Bears are looking for.
In practice, Wilkins obviously has a ton of questions surrounding him. Taking a chance on him would require him to take some visits and pass physicals. He was on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list before his release from the Raiders back in July, and there were reports about Las Vegas wanting him to get another surgery while Wilkins wanted alternative rehab methods, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
The Bears would have to make sure all of this is behind Wilkins before even considering a move. Jones fractures are notoriously tricky, and there is a chance the talented defender will never be the same. Yet, the Bears need a high-upside move to get their defense to an acceptable level to be a postseason team. There may not be a higher upside than Christian Wilkins on the market.