Coming into the 2023 offseason there may not have been a team in the NFL that had as many needs to address as the Chicago Bears. General manager Ryan Poles had his work cut out for him as he needed to improve what could be argued as the least inspiring roster in the NFL.
The Bears didn’t land the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft or finish 2022 on a 10-game losing streak by accident. But, armed with that pick and the most cap space in the league, Poles did a good job of getting the franchise back on track.
The pick was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a haul, which included wide receiver D.J. Moore, who will provide Justin Fields with a bonafide No. 1 option in the passing game. In free agency, multiple upgrades were acquired.
A lot of the focus was on the defensive side of the ball where the Bears needed the most help. Linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards will help shore things up against the run, but their pass rush still needs a boost.
Last season, the Bears had only 20 sacks on the season. Rookie defensive back Jaquan Brisker led the team with 4.0. An impact pass rusher remains a need for the franchise, but the team would be smart to make some more additions to help even a little bit. One suggested trade target from PFF is Bryce Huff of the New York Jets.
“Huff is an assassin on passing downs, where he’s been deployed in a limited role. His 25.6% pass-rush win rate in 2022 was the top mark in the NFL by more than 3 percentage points among edge rushers with at least 100 pass-rush snaps.”
After acquiring Aaron Rodgers this offseason, the Jets are in win-now mode. Trading away an up-and-coming pass rusher could seem to work against that, but with Carl Lawson back and their first-round pick being used on Will McDonald IV, Huff could lose out on the number game.
A trade to a team that has more opportunities to get on the field would benefit Huff as he is ready for an expanded role. The Bears could provide him that chance. What could a trade between Chicago and New York look like? Brad Spielberger of PFF suggested a fourth-round pick that could become a third-rounder depending on incentives Huff reaches.
This deal is a win-win for both teams. The Bears get a much-needed boost to their pass rush and potential long-term building block in Huff. The Jets pick up some draft capital that could be used during the season to add a potential missing piece for what they are hoping is a deep Super Bowl run.
