The start of the league year is just under a week away, but the Chicago Bears have gotten a head start on the festivities. After trading DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday morning, the Bears have put some wheels in motion and could be on the way to addressing their offseason needs, including help in the secondary.
This year’s secondary market in free agency isn’t great, with Nahshon Wright being the top name available. With Wright possibly departing in free agency, Chicago will be on the lookout to replace him and may have raised their eyebrows when the Los Angeles Rams acquired Trent McDuffie in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday.
McDuffie’s arrival gives the Rams a true No. 1 corner, but it pushes other corners on the Rams' roster down the depth chart and potentially out of town. This includes Roger McCreary, whose days in Los Angeles could be numbered and could wind up heading to Chicago in free agency.
Roger McCreary Becomes a Bears Target After Rams’ Trade for Trent McDuffie
McCreary had been on thin ice before the Rams acquired McDuffie. Acquired in a midseason trade with the Tennessee Titans, McCreary came to Los Angeles with a 102.6 passer rating allowed when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus. But things got worse as he played a total of 12 defensive snaps in his first six weeks with the team, in part due to a hip and groin injury suffered on his first defensive snap in McCreary's Week 12 debut.
While he allowed a 77.1 passer rating and four catches for 28 yards with a pass breakup on six targets during his time in Los Angeles, he never seemed to carve out a consistent role when healthy, leading to a likely departure as he heads to free agency.
This is where the Bears can step in. The addition of McDuffie likely pushes McCreary out of the Rams’ plans. With a projected market value of $6.2 million from Spotrac, he would also be available at a fraction of the cost of Wright, who is currently projected to command $16.7 million annually after finishing the 2025 campaign with five interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.
The Bears also face questions with Jaylon Johnson, after a 2025 season marred by injury, and Tyrique Stevenson, who faded from the Bears’ plans as the season progressed. McCreary isn’t the biggest name on the market, but he would fill a need for Chicago as they look to improve the overall performance from their cornerbacks in 2026.