The Chicago Bears are one of the hottest teams in football right now, and with the trade deadline just around the corner, general manager Ryan Poles might not be done making moves. He already traded for Jeffery Simmons, but the defense could use more help.
The Bears' secondary hasn't been as good as expected this season, especially the cornerback room. Tyrique Stevenson is a lost cause at this point, and Jaylon Johnson has been pretty bad for most of the season.
That's why, even though Riq Woolen just doubled down on his commitment to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bears should still try to get him. He's likely to be available for a late Day 3 pick, and Eagles insider Thomas R. Petersen reported Chicago's interest in his services.
Riq Woolen says he wants to stay in Philly, but that shouldn't stop the Bears
“I'm just blessed to be on this team. I'm blessed to make bonds with all these people here. So, whatever lies ahead, lies ahead. But my heart is here, my heart is with this team, and with the guys I've been working with,” he said (h/t On SI).
Woolen signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract to take his talents to the City of Brotherly Love. He couldn't keep his foot on the gas after an impressive rookie season, but he's still a solid player with Super Bowl experience.
The Eagles' season is all but over, and they will likely evaluate their roster to clear money off their books. With uncertainty surrounding Jalen Hurts, this might be the beginning of the end of Howie Roseman's project.
As such, there shouldn't be much resistance to moving on from the veteran cornerback. He's a big and sturdy guy who's a perennial physical mismatch and who can also contribute to the run, though he might get burned here and there on some big gains.
That said, it's not like the Bears have better options to choose from right now. They need someone else to handle things on the boundary once rookie Malik Muhammad returns, and Woolen would be a significant upgrade over what they have right now.
This team is riding high and looks like a legitimate threat to come out of the NFC, especially with the defending Super Bowl champions struggling to stay on their feet. That said, the NFC North is absolutely brutal, and they can't afford a single setback.
The Bears' front office has done an amazing job of rounding up the roster and addressing the obvious flaws, so it's hard to think they won't be active in the trade market to try to add another cornerback to the mix.
Woolen may have said all the right things about wanting to stay, but at the end of the day, he'd certainly welcome an opportunity to play for another ring.
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