Bears Interested in Blockbuster Deal for $125M Edge Rusher: Report
The Chicago Bears added their top pass rusher ahead of the NFL’s 2023 trade deadline by acquiring defensive end Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders for a second-round pick. Now, just one year later, general manager Ryan Poles is interested in potentially repeating history. Erik Lambert of Sportsmockery reported that two players have caught Poles’ eye ahead of the November 5 trade cutoff date.
“Based on current information, two names have his attention: Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby,” Lambert wrote on October 15. Garrett, a defensive end with the Cleveland Browns, is the league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year and has amassed 101 tackles for loss and 92.5 sacks across 107 regular-season games.
The Browns, however, are 1-6 and have already begun trading top players — namely wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills — as the NFL vultures are now in full circle above the floundering AFC North franchise. Whether Cleveland is actually willing to part with Garrett, a cornerstone of the franchise, remains to be seen. However, if Chicago hopes to get him, the price would undoubtedly be at least one first-round pick plus more draft capital on top of that — perhaps even a second first-rounder. But that might be worth it to the Bears, who have several quality picks at their disposal over the next couple of seasons and could elevate a good defense into a great one by adding the star 28-year-old edge rusher.
“Chicago acquiring Garrett would instantly make them a much more serious contender in the NFC. He would bring elite help to the pass-rush and would take the defense to the next level,” Evan Massey of Sports Illustrated wrote on Oct. 22. “With an offense that has shown signs of being very dangerous, the impact that Garrett would make on the defense would make them a team to watch for years to come.” Garrett is currently playing on a $125 million deal that keeps him under contract through the 2026 season.
