3 Reasons the Bears Should Be Sellers at the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline

Five games into the Matt Eberflus era for the Chicago Bears and one thing is clear: The rebuild is going to take some time.

All things considered, there are some positive takeaways for the Bears right now. At 2-3, they aren't last in the NFC North. That distinction belongs to the Detroit Lions, which are in the second year of their own rebuild under Dan Campbell.

So, in that regard, they are somewhat ahead of schedule.

Then again, their two wins came on a swamp against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 when things got weird and a 23-20 victory over the hapless Houston Texans.

There's little doubt the Bears should be looking to sell off some veteran assets to acquire some draft picks and financial flexibility moving into 2023. Here's why.

Uncertainty at Quarterback

Justin Fields has yet to prove he's the future of the Chicago Bears franchise. (David Berding/Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 09: Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears looks on before the start of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Bears 29-22. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images).

There's a case to be made the Bears should actually be looking to use the trade deadline to get Justin Fields some help. He is playing behind an offensive line that hasn't done a great job of protecting him and receivers who are struggling to get open.

However, the second-year quarterback has not played well, either. He has the second-worst completion percentage over expected in the league, per Next Gen Stats. According to Pro Football Reference, he also has the second-highest bad throw percentage.

Fields has all the physical tools you'd like to see in a QB prospect, and there are flashes of the big arm and athleticism that made him the 11th overall pick in the 2021 draft.

There's also been enough to be concerned that the 23-year-old might not be the player to build around.

If that's the case, the Bears are better off using the trade deadline to stock up on draft picks with the idea that general manager Ryan Poles and Eberflus might be looking for "their guy" in the 2023 draft.

With uncertainty at the quarterback position, it's wiser to continue building up draft capital and the means to add help next offseason unless a cheap opportunity presents itself in the meantime.

Robert Quinn Is a Great Trade Chip

Trading away Robert Quinn should be a priority for the Bears. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Chicago Bears linebacker Robert Quinn (94) runs on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

As far as trade chips go, it doesn't get much better than Robert Quinn. He took the top spot on the most recent rendition of Bleacher Report's trade-block big board for a reason.

Finding a new home for the defensive end is a mutually beneficial situation for Chicago and a team looking to contend right now. For the Bears, it sheds a cumbersome contract for a player who isn't producing for them right now anyway.

The 32-year-old has been relatively quiet in the first five games for the Bears. He has just one sack and a tackle for a loss compared to 18.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss last season.

For a lot of contenders, there's hope Quinn will return to the level of play last season that saw him notch 18.5 sacks under Matt Nagy's coaching staff.

The Denver Broncos were able to score a second- and third-round pick for Von Miller from the Los Angeles Rams last season. Even if the Bears were to score a haul that was slightly less than that, it would give them capital and future financial flexibility that can bring an influx of younger talent.

Ultimately, that's what's going to determine the success of Poles and Eberflus in Chicago.

More Snaps for Young Players

Dominique Robinson would be a winner if the Bears trade away Robert Quinn. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Chicago Bears defensive end Dominique Robinson (91) defends against Houston Texans offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (78) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

It's never fun to admit, but this season is all about development for the Bears.

Based on what they've shown so far, the absolute ceiling for the team is seven wins, which would be similar to their current winning percentage. That's not enough reason to make a move to improve the roster slightly.

Instead, trades should be looked at as an opportunity to increase the role of promising players.

For instance, dealing away Robert Quinn would open the door for more snaps for Dominique Robinson and Trevis Gipson, who both have the potential to become foundational players on the defense for years to come.

Hoping Quinn gets back into form merely raises their 2022 ceiling, but developing Gipson and Robinson raises their stock for the foreseeable future.

The same could be said of other potential trade chips such as tackle Riley Reiff. The 33-year-old could help some contenders, but the Bears might be better off continuing to roll with Braxton Jones and Larry Borom as younger players who have the chance of getting better throughout the season.

It's frustrating, but this is definitely a year when moral victories are going to outweigh actual ones on the field for Chicago.