The Chicago Bears are 3-2 after beating the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Their upcoming schedule appears to give them a golden opportunity to build on that momentum, with Jacksonville and New England looming. If they do keep winning, it adds to the intrigue of the upcoming trade deadline at the end of October. GM Ryan Poles has already shown a willingness to be aggressive this time of year if the right player is available. He flipped a 2nd round pick to Pittsburgh in 2022 for Chase Claypool. That didn’t work. However, he scored Montez Sweat for another 2nd round pick last year. That was a steal.
There is no reason to think he won’t be eyeing the market again this year, especially if he feels some good players can be had. Adam Schefter provided an update on that front. Based on what he is hearing, there is a legitimate possibility the Cleveland Browns could look to move players after their ugly 1-4 start. The organization has serious salary cap issues next year. Unloading some older veterans for draft capital would enable them to reset. While Amari Cooper is the most popular name to consider among the wider NFL, this opens the door for Chicago to pursue another.
It isn’t a secret this team has serious question marks on the interior offensive line. They haven’t had a consistent starter at right guard for two years. Teven Jenkins still can’t stay healthy at left guard. Finding any sort of upgrade for that area would be a big win for the Bears. Teller has been one of the more dominant guards in the NFL over the past three years, making the Pro Bowl each season. He is a punishing run blocker with a mile-long nasty streak and more than adequate in pass protection.
At 29 years old, there is no reason to think Teller is poised for a steep decline. The tricky part for the Chicago Bears is his health. A couple of weeks ago, he went on injured reserve with a knee injury. The good news is he’s eligible to return in week eight, which is shortly before the trade deadline. That means the Bears could acquire him with hopes of him playing immediately. If healthy, he would be an instant upgrade over anybody on the roster. As for the cost?
Teller has one year after this season left on his contract, worth $14.4 million. Combined with his age and injury status, the Bears could probably secure him and a Day 3 pick in exchange for a 3rd.
