The Chicago Bears have made significant moves to bolster their defense in the past half-year, such as acquiring Montez Sweat for pass rushing duties and securing a long-term contract extension for All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Is there potentially another impactful move planned before the 2024 NFL trade deadline this autumn?

According to an analysis by Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, several top trade targets for 2024 have contract situations that might lead to a change of teams in the coming months. Knox highlighted a standout defensive player who could elevate the Bears defense to “elite” status: Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

Knox suggested on March 27 that the Bears, who already added Sweat and extended his contract, could be a suitable destination for Allen if Washington decides to make him available. He pointed out that with Sweat’s addition last season, the Bears had a strong defensive front, and bringing in Allen could potentially elevate them to having an exceptionally formidable defensive line.

At the age of 29, Allen has been a standout performer for the Washington Commanders, amassing 22 sacks and 36 tackles for loss in the last three seasons as a key figure in their defensive line. He received Pro Bowl honors in both 2021 and 2022. Despite being under contract with Washington for the next two seasons, Knox highlights that Allen is considered “largely underpaid” especially in comparison to Christian Wilkins’ recent $110 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Furthermore, there are no guarantees remaining on Allen’s current contract.

With upcoming cap hits of approximately $.4millionand$23 million for the next two seasons, Allen may be seeking a new contract that properly reflects his exceptional performance on the field. However, the question arises whether the Bears are still in a financial position to make a significant investment in their defense given the potential cost associated with acquiring a player of Allen’s caliber.

Jonathan Allen meets the requirements, but can the Bears accommodate his cost?

There’s no doubt that Allen would significantly improve the Bears’ defense at the center. He is a disruptive force inside who excels in both pass-rushing and run-stopping, and he can effectively handle the three-technique position, even though Washington has shared those duties between him and Daron Payne in recent years.

While Allen seems like a good match on paper, the potential acquisition cost in terms of draft picks and salary cap space may not make it a justifiable move for the Bears.

In the last year, the Bears have allocated substantial funds to key players in each defensive unit: linebacker Tremaine Edmunds $72million),defensiveendSweat($96 million), and cornerback Johnson $Whilethedefensivetacklepositionremainsapotentialareaforfurtherinvestment,itseemsunlikelythattheteamwouldbewillingtospendmorethan$20 million per year on a veteran approaching 30 years old.

Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that the Bears had the financial flexibility to extend a contract offer to Wilkins, who is younger than Allen and is coming off a standout season comparable to the deal he signed with the Raiders. However, the Bears chose to prioritize retaining Johnson and focusing on enhancing their offense instead.

The Commanders would probably require at least a second-day draft pick for Allen if they were open to trading him. The Bears possess two second-round picks in 2025, but they might consider using those picks to secure a younger prospect in the draft instead.

However, a major obstacle could be the Commanders’ stance on the matter. Recently appointed general manager Adam Peters explicitly stated at the NFL league meetings that the Commanders have no intention of trading Allen. While positions can evolve, especially if Allen’s representatives request a salary increase, the situation remains uncertain for now.

it possible for the Bears to acquire a standout defensive tackle in the NFL Draft?

Jonathan Allen seems like a good idea. Of course, if you played EA’s Madden 24 and went all out to bring him to the Bears, their defensive line would likely excel. However, in reality, the Bears have a more cost-effective and viable option to enhance the strength of their defensive line than pursuing a high-profile trade.

The Bears have reduced the amount of draft picks they possess in the last month. They traded their fifth-round pick to Buffalo in exchange for guard/center Ryan Bates and sent the superior of their two fourth-round picks to the Los Angeles Chargers to acquire wide receiver Keenan Allen. Additionally, Chicago didn’t acquire any 2024 picks when they traded quarterback Justin Fields; they received a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick in return, which could potentially improve to a fourth-round pick at best.

However, the Bears have the capacity to bolster their defense by adding a standout defensive tackle if they identify it as the key component missing from their roster. Players like Jer’Zhan Newton from Illinois and Byron Murphy II from Texas are expected to be within reach when the Bears make their second pick in the first round at No. 9 overall. While selecting either player might seem ambitious for a top-10 pick, the scenario becomes more plausible if the Bears decide to trade down to the mid-to-late teens of the first round.

Opting to trade down could also result in the Bears acquiring an extra pick on Day 2, providing them with flexibility to address their defensive line requirements. By moving back but remaining within the top 20 and securing a top-50 pick in the process, the Bears open up various strategies that could lead to them exiting the draft with both a three-technique defensive tackle and an edge rusher.