Top 7 Chicago Bears Trade Candidates Entering Preseason Week 3

We are through two weeks of the preseason and that means we are inching closer to the Chicago Bears putting together their initial 53-man roster.

This is the time of year when we start looking for teams to trade their spare parts, and by spare parts we mean players who aren't going to make the roster but could have under different circumstances at a given position.

We saw this in the Sunday night trade between the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints. The Niners had an extra running back but needed a linebacker, and the opposite was true for the Saints, so the two teams swapped Deion Jones and Zamir White.

The Bears have at least seven players who can be viewed as possible trade candidates. Here's who they are.

One of the four left tackle competitors

Chicago Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones. — Chicago Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones (70) walks on the field during Training Camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ozzy Trapilo's faster-than-expected recovery from a torn patellar tendon has completely flipped the tackle position on its head in Chicago.

Even if he isn't ready for Week 1, Trapilo is likely to avoid beginning the season on an injured list, leaving one less tackle spot open on the initial 53.

That is bad news for Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills, both of whom are now more firmly on the roster bubble after starting the offseason as left tackle competitors. If one is heading for the cut pile, the Bears would be amenable to trading whoever loses out.

We would not put Braxton Jones or Theo Benedet anywhere near the roster bubble, but Chicago could be open to trading one of them given the situation and if the right offer comes along.

That said, Amegadjie and Wills are far more likely to be moved than Jones and Benedet.

Kentavius Street or James Lynch

Chicago Bears defensive tackle James Lynch. — Chicago Bears defensive tackle James Lynch (97) blocks a pass against Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With Jordan van den Berg ascending and locked-in to make the 53-man roster, and with the recent addition of Marcus Davenport, Chicago now has a more crowded situation upfront.

The Bears carried five defensive tackles on their initial 53-man roster last year and have Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, Neville Gallimore and van den Berg as roster locks and that probably leaves just one spot up for grabs.

At defensive end, Chicago is likely to keep no more than five, also, and they have Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker and Daniel Hardy all locked-in, and Davenport is likely to make Chicago's roster, also, after being signed recently.

Kentavius Street and James Lynch appear to be the best bets to make the 53-man roster out of the remaining defensive linemen, but one of them will likely have to go. Knowing that, don't be surprised to see either one traded before cuts.

Terell Smith

The Bears have been ravaged by injuries in the secondary during the offseason, but Smith could still miss the cut, making him a trade candidate.

As things stand now, Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad and Josh Blackwell are locked in, and if Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Jones can get healthy, that gives the Bears six cornerbacks, which is how many they kept last year.

Smith isn't proven, but he has shown promise over two seasons after posting a 76.5 Pro Football Focus coverage grade in 2024. It's possible teams will be interested in a trade in order to avoid running the risk of missing out on him on the waiver wire.

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