5 Things the Bears Need to Do Correctly After Trading Justin Fields

One More Guy to Become Monsters Again

At the trade deadline of 2022, Ryan Poles disastrously traded Roquan Smith to the Baltimore Ravens. Even worse, Poles turned around and took the second round pick they received (which was already way too cheap for Smith) and gave it to the Steelers for Chase Claypool. Claypool wasn't good with Pittsburgh and, oddly enough, wasn't good with the Bears.

Bears fans persevered. "Defense is a group activity, one guys doesn't matter," the fans said in defense of Poles and their beloved Bears. Without Smith, the Bears defense absolutely cratered. With Smith, Baltimore defense is close to Ray Lewis era legendary status and bullied teams for most of the 2023 season. Smith was first team All-Pro in 2022 and 2023.

One guy does make a difference. Even on defense. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus consistently said they just need a couple more pieces for his defensive strategy to work. Hired as a defensive wizard, Bears fans had yet to see this genius in action and thought it was just more rhetoric like, "The offense is about to turn the corner."

Poles went out and got Montez Sweat from the Commanders and overnight, everything changed for the defense. It wasn't like there weren't good defense performances, it just wasn't totally working for all four quarters. Almost like they were missing a piece. There was no secret that Bears were at the bottom of the league in sacks and we could use a guy.

Very few people (except for Eberflus) could have foreseen the transformation that one guy on an 11-person defense could make. Not only is Sweat a very dangerous man, but he opens the door for other pass rushers to get to the quarterback, takes enormous pressure off the secondary and they lead the league in interceptions the last half of the year, and allows the linebackers to take more chances.

The Bears could use one more guy on defense. We have Sweat, we have Jaylon Johnson who Poles rightly paid, and we have several very good players. We could use another major impact player. Safety Kevin Byard is a good acquisition and famously a great tackler.

Stephon Gilmore is available and still playing at an elite level. Jadaveon Clowney is available and playing the best football of his life. You also have the number 9 pick to dangle in front of whoever you want to go get. Do you have to gamble on someone untested right out of college or could you go with a veteran who will undoubtedly outperform all the rookies?

The Bears need one more guy on defense to take back the title of Monsters of the Midway.