The Chicago Bears have a 6-2 record, an offense that just embarrassed Seattle and a rather inconvenient problem at tight end.
Cole Kmet is out for the season. Colston Loveland has shown plenty of promise, but expecting the rookie to handle everything Kmet brought to Ben Johnson's offense isn't particularly realistic.
Now, with the November 10th trade deadline approaching, Ryan Poles has a decision to make. Does he trust the players already on the roster, or does he spend another draft pick to give Caleb Williams some help?
Mike Moraitis Sports Illustrated has identified three potential trade candidates who could address Chicago's sudden lack of depth.
Bears have three different options to replace Cole Kmet
In Moraitis' report, he suggested that Dallas Goedert, Mo Alie-Cox and Luke Schoonmaker were identified as possible trade options for Chicago.
None would be a direct replacement for everything Kmet provided. That's the problem Poles has to sort through.
Kmet caught just 10 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown before suffering his season ending knee injury against New England. Those numbers hardly suggest Chicago lost a major receiving weapon.
But Kmet's job involved considerably more than catching passes.
He helped open running lanes, handled blocking assignments and allowed Johnson to use multiple tight end formations without making the offense predictable. Loveland can certainly catch the football. Asking him to absorb all of those responsibilities while continuing to develop as a receiver is another story.
Rookie Sam Roush has stepped into a larger role, but Chicago is putting considerable faith in two young tight ends during a season when expectations have changed dramatically.
That's why another veteran makes sense.
Dallas Goedert offers the most proven receiving ability
Goedert would give Williams another established target, particularly on third downs and in the red zone.
The Philadelphia Eagles veteran has spent years producing in an offense that expects its tight ends to contribute as receivers and blockers. He's also playing on an expiring contract, making him an intriguing short term option.
The concern is what Philadelphia would demand in return.
Chicago already spent heavily to acquire Simmons. Giving up another valuable draft pick for a player who could leave after the season wouldn't be particularly appealing.
Mo Alie-Cox could be the better fit for Chicago
Alie-Cox isn't going to sell many jerseys or make headlines with spectacular receiving numbers.
He might be exactly what Johnson needs, though.
The Indianapolis Colts veteran has built his reputation around physical blocking and doing the work that rarely shows up in a box score.
Chicago already has Loveland to stretch the field and create mismatches. Bringing in Alie-Cox would allow the Bears to preserve more of their existing offensive structure without forcing their young tight ends into unfamiliar responsibilities.
He could also be a less expensive acquisition than Goedert.
Luke Schoonmaker offers another inexpensive possibility
The Dallas Cowboys tight end is a different kind of gamble.
Schoonmaker hasn't established himself as a consistent receiving threat, but he has experience working in an NFL offense and could provide additional depth.
There are questions about his health and how much Chicago could reasonably expect from him immediately.
Still, Poles wouldn't necessarily be acquiring him to become a starter. The Bears need another capable body who can handle assignments, contribute as a blocker and give Johnson some flexibility.
Ryan Poles needs to prioritize fit over another big name
The Bears don't need to make another headline grabbing trade.
They've already done that with Simmons.
What they need is someone who can help keep their offense functioning when Loveland needs a breather or Johnson wants to put multiple tight ends on the field.
Goedert is probably the most talented receiving option of the three. Schoonmaker could provide inexpensive depth.
But Alie-Cox deserves serious consideration because his skill set more closely resembles the blocking responsibilities Chicago lost with Kmet.
At 6-2, the Bears have a legitimate opportunity to make some noise in the postseason.
It would be a shame to watch an offense this talented become limited by something Poles had an opportunity to address before the deadline.
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