Ryan Poles may be preparing another Bears trade nobody expected

The Chicago Bears spent two first-round picks to bring Jeffery Simmons to town. That's the kind of move a general manager makes when he believes his team can win right now.

Apparently, Ryan Poles isn't finished looking.

Chicago sits at 6-2 following Monday night's 34-17 win over Seattle. The Bears embarrassed the defending Super Bowl champions on their own field, and Simmons wasted little time making his presence felt.

Yet there's a growing possibility Chicago could make another move before the November 10th trade deadline. The question isn't whether Poles wants to improve his roster. It's whether he can afford to keep spending.

Bears could be shopping for more defensive help

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Chicago remains interested in adding another pass rusher and help in the secondary.

That should tell fans something about how Poles views this team.

The Bears just acquired one of football's better interior defensive linemen, and they're already looking at what else needs fixing. Simmons recorded 6 tackles and a sack against Seattle, giving Chicago exactly the kind of production it hoped to get when it made the trade.

But the secondary hasn't exactly earned the benefit of the doubt.

Chicago has dealt with injuries, uneven coverage and stretches where opposing receivers have found far too much room to operate. The pass rush can make those problems less noticeable. It can't make them disappear.

And while Simmons gives Montez Sweat another legitimate threat along the defensive line, the Bears could still use someone capable of getting after the quarterback when their starters need a breather.

None of this requires another blockbuster.

A veteran cornerback who can hold his own in coverage would be useful. So would an experienced edge rusher who doesn't need to play 60 snaps to contribute.

Chicago doesn't need to win the trade deadline twice. It needs to find somebody who can help in January.

Ryan Poles has already spent enough to make Bears fans nervous

There's one problem with continuing to shop. The Bears don't have unlimited draft picks to throw around.

Chicago gave up its 2027 and 2028 first-round selections, plus a 2027 fourth-round pick, to acquire Simmons. That's an expensive deal, regardless of how well he plays.

Another trade involving premium draft capital would be difficult to defend.

Poles also has to consider what happens when Caleb Williams eventually gets paid. The luxury of having a talented quarterback on a rookie contract won't last forever. Chicago will need young, affordable players to keep this roster competitive.

Still, nobody wants to hear about protecting draft picks if the Bears get bounced from the playoffs because they couldn't cover somebody's third receiver.

That's the uncomfortable position Poles has put himself in.

He's built a 6-2 team, watched Ben Johnson turn the offense into a legitimate weapon and made an enormous investment in the defensive line. Chicago has every reason to believe it can compete with the NFC's best.

But believing you're a contender and having enough healthy, dependable players to survive January are two different things.

If Poles can find another defensive contributor without surrendering valuable future assets, he should absolutely make the call.

If the asking price gets ridiculous, walk away.

The Simmons trade already showed how far Chicago is willing to go. Poles doesn't need another expensive deal just to prove he's serious.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow