Nothing about the Chicago Bears season thus far has been pretty. Maybe the team needs to embrace that concept.
The offense has looked abysmal at times, as rookie quarterback Caleb Williams adjusts to professional competition behind a slipshod offensive line. But the defense, which won the Bears’ Week 1 game almost single-handedly, has been excellent.
Chicago has drafted well in recent years, particularly at cornerback, and boasts enviable youth across their defensive depth chart. But based on the state of the trade market, their best path to improvement may still be adding another superstar to their secondary.
On Wednesday, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report listed Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker as one of the top 10 trade candidates around the NFL. If the Bears want to go scorched earth with the league’s most dominant defense, Baker should don navy and orange in 2024.
“The 28-year-old (Baker) looms as a lucrative trade chip because A) he wanted a new contract last offseason before settling for a raise instead and B) he’s one of the most talented players at any position slated to reach the open market in 2025,” Knox said.
“The Cardinals should expect to receive calls on Baker. And if they’re looking to add premium draft capital, a trade involving him would provide it.”
The Bears have draft capital to spare this year. They got an extra second-round pick from the Carolina Panthers in the Bryce Young trade, and a sixth-rounder that is on track to becoming a fourth-rounder if Justin Fields remains the starting QB for the 3-0 Pittsburgh Steelers.
Free safety for the Bears is manned by Kevin Byard III, a well-respected veteran and one of the Bears’ eight captains. But Byard has played a lot of strong safety in his career as well, and could shift over to take Jaquan Brisker’s spot. Brisker could even be included in the trade, if it reduces the draft capital Chicago has to surrender.
Bringing in someone like Baker would be a signal. The Bears would be telling the football world that their defense is their calling card, and they’re here to win games ugly.
Time will tell if that indeed becomes Chicago’s mantra.
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