The Chicago Bears have a bye week after a 2-2 start to the season. This is a nice pause that allows the Bears to regroup and prepare for the rest of the intense 2025 campaign.
The trade deadline isn't until Nov. 4, but that doesn't mean Chicago's front office shouldn't already be scouring the market for players who could wind up on the chopping block. One player in particular that the Bears would be wise to look into trading for is New York Giants edge Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Bears are tied for 30th in the NFL in team sacks (5) and, undoubtedly, need more juice off the edge.
Bears Should Look into Trading for Kayvon Thibodeaux
The Bears have five players with just one sack, clearly highlighting that they could use more production from that group. The Giants have 2025 draft pick Abdul Carter and Brian Burns already on the edge, giving them the luxury to move on from Thibodeaux for draft capital.
The Giants already picked up Thibodeaux's fifth-year option for 2026, meaning he's on the books for $14.7 million. If Chicago were to acquire him, he would be signed for this and next season, so the front office would have time to figure out a long-term deal. In 2025 with the Giants, the Oregon product has recorded 11 total tackles, eight QB hits, and 2.5 sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, he has a 73.6 overall grade (37th among 165 graded edge defenders). Montez Sweat (74.5 overall grade per PFF) is the only edge defender on Chicago with a higher grade than Thibodeaux.
The 24-year-old has 138 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 54 QB hits, and 23.5 sacks in his career. This offseason, Chicago gave Dayo Odeyingbo a three-year, $48 million deal, but he hasn't lived up to that deal in September. He has nine total tackles, three QB hits, and one sack. That has led to a 53 overall grade (131st among 165 graded edge defenders), which is underwhelming.
While the Bears gave him a solid deal, adding another young pass rusher is never a bad move. This is especially true since the best teams in the league can generate pressure in the backfield. Getting after the quarterback only benefits a secondary that has had Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson miss time this season.
The Giants aren't likely to hand Thibodeaux a big-time deal with Burns on the books until 2028 at over $30 million a year, and Carter was brought in with the No. 3 overall pick this past April.
The Bears are aiming to fight for a playoff spot in 2025, and acquiring Thibodeaux could help achieve that not only in 2025 but also in 2026.