Shocking Trade Ideas Bears Should Pursue Before 2023 Season

The Chicago Bears' offseason has already been defined by one major trade. Rather than use the No. 1 pick, they acquired D.J. Moore and a treasure trove of draft selections to move back to No. 9.

Throw in a further trade to take them back to No. 10, and the Bears' moves this offseason could have a significant impact on the roster for the next decade.

With the draft and free agency now behind us, trades are the last major way a team can still make changes to its roster.

Chicago is in an interesting spot heading into the 2023 season. It's in Year 2 of a rebuild with Ryan Poles at the helm, but Aaron Rodgers' departure in Green Bay means the NFC North is more winnable than it has been for a decade.

So, if the Bears want to make a big splash to contend right now or simply keep making savvy moves to rebuild, here are three trade ideas that would be shocking but worth consideration.

Trade for Grover Stewart

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 02: Grover Stewart #90 of the Indianapolis Colts is seen during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 2, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The Bears spent a ton of money to get new blood at inside linebacker, and T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds will be roving through the middle of Matt Eberflus' defense next season.

The addition of the two linebackers should help a Bears defense that gave up 4.9 yards per carry last season. But they can only do so much if they don't have tackles in front of them who hold up at the point of attack and keep them clean.

Chicago added Andrew Billings through free agency, but there's still room for improvement outside of the 28-year-old.

Making a trade for Grover Stewart would reunite the veteran with Eberflus while giving the Bears a reliable interior defender. He is a stalwart against the run, racking up nine tackles for a loss and 70 combined tackles with the Colts last season.

The 29-year-old would offer some help in the pass rush department, too. Last season, he had four sacks and 14 pressures, per Sports Info Solutions.

Stewart is in the final year of his contract, and Indianapolis' new coaching staff has no ties to him. It's worth picking up the phone and seeing if Eberflus' former team is willing to deal.

Trade for Saquon Barkley

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 15: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants rushes during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 15, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

When it looked like Saquon Barkley was headed for free agency, the Bears were the odds-on favorite to land the talented running back.

The fit made a lot of sense. David Montgomery was a free agent, Chicago had plenty of cap space, and the idea of putting a dynamic running back beside Justin Field in the backfield could open up the Bears offense.

Not a whole lot has changed there.

The Bears let Montgomery walk. They replaced him with Roschon Johnson in the draft and D'Onta Foreman in free agency. Those two, combined with Khalil Herbert, give the team a solid group of backs.

However, none of the three is the same kind of difference-maker as a healthy Barkley.

The Giants and the running back still have yet to iron out a long-term agreement. Right now, the 26-year-old is set to play on the tag this season and the clock is ticking. They have until July 17 to strike a deal, and Barkley has yet to sign his franchise tag tender so he's not at OTAs right now.

A trade for Barkley would give the Bears one of the best groups of talent around their quarterback in the league. If they could do it for less than what the Niners gave up to get Christian McCaffrey (four picks), it's a move worth exploring.

Trade Away Cole Kmet

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet runs up field after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

It's important to note here that Chicago general manager Ryan Poles did not draft Cole Kmet. He was a second-round pick by Ryan Pace in one of his final drafts for the Bears.

That being said, he's been a solid player for the Bears. He took advantage of some serious touchdown regression in 2022 with seven scores after recording none in 2021. But he was slightly less productive overall last season with 50 catches for 544 yards after notching 60 receptions for 612 yards the previous year.

A lot of that had to do with a reduced role. Kmet only saw 69 targets after seeing 93 the year prior.

It's hard to envision the 24-year-old improving on that number in Chicago in 2023. The addition of D.J. Moore gives the Bears a target magnet deserving of a high-volume role. Then, Fields still has to get Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool involved.

Add in the fact that the Bears signed Robert Tonyan in free agency, and Kmet might be more valuable to another team.

If someone is willing to pay up for him in the final year of his rookie contract, the Bears should be willing to listen.