The Chicago Bears almost pulled off another surprise trade this past week. Reports surfaced that they were involved in talks to acquire four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon from the New England Patriots. They were neck-and-neck with the Atlanta Falcons for the honor. However, multiple sources indicate the two sides couldn’t agree on a solution to Judon’s ongoing contract situation. As a result, Atlanta’s offer was accepted. Ryan Poles would have to await another opportunity.
The Bears GM spoke with the FOX 32 broadcast crew during his team’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. He made it clear that his stance on the Judon pursuit was the same as it’s been with previous trades. When opportunities are there to make the Bears better, and it makes sense, he will be aggressive. With Judon off the table, it sounds like the team is content to stick with who they have for the time being. Maybe another option pops up in the coming weeks.
“We’re always looking across the league to find opportunities to make our team better. Obviously, they got to make sense all the way around. When those doors open, we’re gonna go through them and have those conversations. But I’ll tell you this, I’ve been really excited about [Austin] Booker’s play. Dominique Robinson has started to develop.
“We got some good competition, and I think either way, we’re going to be all right. But again, as a front office, we’re going to just continue to look for those opportunities.”
The last known option on the trade market is Haason Reddick. He’s locked in a contract standoff with the New York Jets, who have declared they have zero intention of trading him. After that, nobody else has come to light. Yannick Ngakoue is still available. He should be healed from his ankle injury last season. The Bears could also go digging for potential gems in the waiver wire at the end of the month. Truth be told, they are unlikely to find a viable option, at least until the trade deadline in October.
There is no question that Austin Booker’s ascent during the preseason has likely eased some of the Bears’ fears. He has looked excellent in each of his preseason appearances, showcasing power, quickness, and instincts. As for Dominique Robinson, reports insist he’s bulked up and looked good in practice. The problem is that it still isn’t translating to games. He will be one to watch. Ryan Poles won’t tip anybody off to his real plans, so keep those ears open for possible news over the next two weeks.
