One of the best parts of the Chicago Bears camp and preseason has been the clear improvement in the trenches. Ben Johnson stepped in and understood the need to get better on both lines, with the offensive line being a glaring issue. It slowed the development of Caleb Williams and has been an issue for the franchise for the past handful of seasons. However, it seems the offseason shuffle has finally given the Bears one of the better units in the conference. This is evidenced by recent trade rumors.
The Bears are looking for a landing spot for guard Jordan McFadden, simply having too many proven options to carry the guard moving forward. It wouldn't be a surprise to see trade negotiations last past Week 1 based on Chicago's current positioning. For a team to be willing to spend on the offensive lineman, it seems likely the Bears need to prove they are willing to hand him a roster spot.
Regardless, it is an exciting sign of how much growth Chicago's line has gone through and the drastic improvement fans are expecting. A welcome change compared to the struggles of a season ago.
With a logjam at offensive line, the #Bears are exploring trade options for guard Jordan McFadden, per source. McFadden played 124 snaps the last two preseason games and held up well.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 25, 2025
Bears Actively Shopping Guard Jordan McFadden
According to Jeremy Fowler, the Bears backlog along the offensive line has created a trade expectation for guard Jordan McFadden. Chicago is actively searching for a landing spot as it nears the roster deadline. Even if the Bears keep the guard past this year's deadline, a trade is still very much on the table. Whether it is an injury or struggling starters, McFadden is going to be an attractive trade chip the Bears will be able to move off of at some point this season.
For McFadden, a trade is probably the wisest path forward considering Chicago's current offensive line depth. There really isn't a clear role, while other franchises would be starting the guard. The question is simply if anyone is willing to pay now, or if the Bears' hand will be forced, giving McFadden a roster spot. It is one of the few interesting stories left for Chicago heading into the season.
The trade rumor continues to illustrate the great improvements that Ben Johnson has made in the trenches. It was the missing piece for the Bears last season, and was a strong offseason focus resulting in early promising results for a franchise that appears poised to turn the corner.