Why the Bears should really trade for Myle Garrett or Maxx Crosby

Everything in the NFC North has changed, and the fall of the infallible Minnesota Vikings is just part of it.

In five days, the Vikings lost to the Lions and Rams. They are now 5-2, the same number of losses the Bears have, the same record as the Bears if the Bears can win Sunday in Washington.

Meanwhile, unsubstantiated reports that the Bears are among the teams inquiring about the availability of Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett have circulated, but it all seems like a dream.

The Bears couldn’t be a team in the race to trade for Garrett or even Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby because they’re in too tough a division, one in which they have the misfortune of being the fourth team, even having a . 667 winning percentage. That’s the kind of thing the Lions are talking about because they’ve lost their terrific pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the season.

This is all so much garbage, a narrative.

The Bears should be thinking about acquiring Crosby just like the Lions or even the Packers might be thinking. The Bears, above all others, should feel they can and should do it.

They have everything ready to get to the Super Bowl right now.

It depends on several factors, such as making his running game consistent, protecting Caleb Williams well and, finally, Williams himself. It would need to achieve even faster development than it has already demonstrated. However, it is entirely possible.

The Lions do not possess the rights to trade for a top defensive end. The Bears, in fact, would be a more lucrative trade partner because they have a first and second two in the 2025 draft. If we go by the common thinking of those who live in the past, the Bears are more likely to finish last and around .500. So those picks would be worth more than the picks the Browns or Raiders could get for their pass rusher from the Lions or Packers or even the Vikings. All of this, of course, depends on the sales price.

The Bears have a fully established defense since the middle of last season. They’re like the Packers in reverse. Green Bay is trying to get its defense to a Super Bowl level in the first year they’ve played a new scheme, just as the Bears’ offense is trying to put it together in its first year. The Bears’ defense is where the Packers’ offense is under Matt LaFleur, a group built over several years, with a quarterback who only came into his own late last season, around the time the Bears’ defense came into its own with the acquisition of Montez Sweat.

Consider a Sweat and Crosby or Sweat and Garrett pass rush, with the quarterbacks approaching the pocket in terror against two defensive tackles ranked in the top 10 in pass win rate. QB, meet Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter, and Zacch Pickens will soon be added to the mix.

The Bears already have Darrell Taylor and he is in the top 10 in pass rush win rate, ESPN says. But he hasn’t had a sack since the first game. And the Bears defensive line always operates best with a revolving door of defensive linemen during games so they can stay fresh.

They had a chance with Haason Reddick, but this wouldn’t have fit because who really wants a player willing to sit out unnecessarily until October? But Garrett and Crosby are top-tier elite pass rushers who would be perfect complements and double-teamed Sweat, whose speed and power off the edge could really be unleashed on the rush.

GUESSING GAME ON JAYDEN DANIELS TO CONTINUE UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE GAME

WHY COMMANDERS’ PLAY MEANS MORE TO THE BEARS’ OFFENSE THAN QB’S SHOWDOWN

AUTOSCOUT NEEDS TO GIVE THE BEARS ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE FIRST QUARTER

THE BEARS LOSE ANOTHER QUARTER FINAL AND BRING ONE MORE

The Bears are exactly where they should trade for one of those two superstar defensive ends because general manager Ryan Poles hasn’t shown an ability to identify immediate contributors at that position during drafts to date, and they have cap space in the future to face another big contract because Williams is still on his first contract.

So they can handle another big contract for a pass rusher and provide the type of scheme where having another threat can work.

The Poles, then, could focus their future in the draft on improving their offensive line, which is their area of ​​​​specialization.

The Bears are ready to trade as a Super Bowl contender because they are. The classification says this until proven otherwise. Victories over Jacksonville, Rams, Panthers and Titans do not count for less in the standings.

If the Vikings, with journeyman Sam Darnold at quarterback and a defense driven largely by scheme rather than personnel, are considered such, then certainly the Bears can figure into the super equation. If the Bears land a top edge rusher and keep him from coming to the Lions on the trade market, their chances increase even more.

Unlike the Vikings, the Bears beat the Rams. They beat the Lions last year once and should have done it twice.

The big obstacle for the Bears would be the Packers, which is nothing new.

However, what is at stake now could be the Super Bowl and not simply making the playoffs. And now they would be armed with a fully equipped defensive line and a budding offense.

In the SI NFC North ranking

1. Lions, 2. Vikings, 3. Packers, 4. Bears

Detroit Lions

John Maakaron, Detroit Lions at SI

State your team’s case for the Super Bowl: When the Lions are running on offense, they are one of the toughest units to stop in the NFL. Jared Goff has been playing at an MVP level and the players around him are emerging among the best in the league at their positions. He is comfortable behind a strong offensive line and has the ability to carve up defenses.

The most important key to victory in Week 8: Without giving in. The Lions are on something of a roll heading into this game against the struggling Titans. Against a team that has already started selling before the trade deadline, it is paramount not to suffer an emotional letdown after two big wins. Games against Green Bay and Houston are on the horizon, but they can’t afford to overlook a struggling Tennessee team.

Green Bay Packers

Bill Huber, Green Bay Packers on SI

State your team’s case for the Super Bowl: It would be easy to consider last week’s win over Houston as good luck. The Texans were missing four starters on defense and their elite receiver, Nico Collins, but forced the Packers to kick a field goal on the final play. However, the Packers have multiple ways to win games. Of course, Jordan Love can throw it and Josh Jacobs can execute it. But defense, a barrier to so many potential Super Bowl runs since their last championship in 2010, is the reason Green Bay won last week. The Texans led by CJ Stroud finished with 55 net passing yards.

The most important key to victory in Week 8: Protecting Jordan Love. Jacksonville has a good offensive mix with Travon Walker (six sacks this year) and Josh Hines-Allen (17.5 sacks last year). High school, however, has been a disaster. Jacksonville has allowed the league’s worst passer rating with 16 touchdown passes and one interception. With the multitude of threats Green Bay has received, there should be plenty of options, as long as Love has time to find them.

Minnesota Vikings

Joe Nelson, Minnesota Vikings at SI

State your team’s case for the Super Bowl: The Vikings have a high-level defense, a strong offense and a kicker that doesn’t miss. Those ingredients have fueled wins over three contenders — the 49ers, Texans and Packers — and nearly defeated the juggernaut Lions. The upcoming schedule isn’t difficult, and it won’t be a surprise if the Vikings are 12-2 or 13-1 with three weeks left in the regular season. That could create home field advantage during the playoffs. If Sam Darnold doesn’t fall flat on his face, the 2024 Vikings could go all the way.

chicago bears

Gene Chamberlain, Chicago Bears at SI

State your team’s case for the Super Bowl: The Bears have been playing close to Super Bowl level defense since last season and continue with 12 consecutive opponents failing to score more than 21 points. His combination of cornerback, linebacker and running back is the key with Jaylon Johnson, either TJ Edwards or Tremaine Edmunds and Montez Sweat. A Super Bowl run would require Caleb Williams to stay on his current upward path and the offensive line to solidify run and pass blocking for the divisional game and playoffs.

The most important key to victory in Week 8: Containment. If their defense faces Jayden Daniels, they need to keep him in the pocket. Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter can’t let Daniels get close and dive with the ball. If it’s Marcus Mariota, the same goes, as Mariota runs just as well, but not as successfully. He had 11 runs last week in relief of Daniels. Playing a lot of zone is one way to combat a running QB and the Bears are among the best at this.

Twitter: BearsOnSI