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 that.

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

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

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

This is all so much nonsense, a story.

The Bears should think about acquiring Crosby, just like the Lions or even the Packers might be thinking. Above all, the Bears need to feel like they can and should do this.

They have what it takes to make a Super Bowl run now.

It depends on several factors, such as getting their running game into a consistent state, properly protecting Caleb Williams and ultimately Williams himself. He should develop even faster than he has already shown. However, it is very possible.

The Lions do not own the rights to trade for a top defensive end. The Bears would actually be a more lucrative trading partner because they have a first and second second in the 2025 draft. If you go by the general mindset of those who lived in the past, the Bears are more likely to go 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, Packers or even Vikings. All this of course depends on the asking price.

The Bears have had a complete defense since the middle of last season. They’re like the Packers in reverse. Green Bay is trying to get its defense to Super Bowl levels in the first year of playing a new scheme, just like the Bears offense is trying to put it together in their first year. The Bears defense is where the Packers offense runs under Matt LaFleur, a group that has been working together for a number of years, with a quarterback who only came into his own late last season around the time the Bears defense came into its own justice came with the takeover of Montez Sweat.

Think of a Sweat and Crosby or Sweat and Garrett pass rush, with QBs panicking into the pocket for two defensive tackles who rank in the top 10 in pass rush wins. QBs, meet Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter, with Zacch Pickens soon to be thrown into the mix.

The Bears already have Darrell Taylor and he ranks in the top 10 in pass rush wins, according to ESPN. But he hasn’t had a sack since the opener. And the Bears’ defensive line always functions best with a revolving door of defensive linemen during games so they can stay fresh.

They had a chance at Haason Reddick, but this wouldn’t have been a good fit because who really wants a player who is willing to sit out unnecessarily until October? But Garrett and Crosby are excellent, elite pass rushers who would be perfect complements and double-team Sweat, whose speed and strength off the edge could then really shine in the rush.

GUESSING ON JAYDEN DANIELS CONTINUES UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE GAME

WHY COMMANDERS PLAY MEANS MORE TO ENDURE OFFENSE THAN QB SHOWDOWN

SELF-SCOUT SHOULD GIVE BEARS ANSWERS TO FIRST QUARTER QUESTIONS

BEARS LOSE ANOTHER FOURTH TIGHT END AND BRING ANOTHER

The Bears are right in the spot where they should trade for one of those two superstar defensive ends, as GM Ryan Poles has been unable to identify immediate contributors at that position during the drafts thus far, and they have the salary cap space in the future to handle another big contract, as Williams is still on his first contract.

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

The Poles could focus his future on improving their attacking line, which is his area of ​​expertise.

The Bears are ripe to act like a Super Bowl contender because they are one. The rankings say this until proven otherwise. Wins over Jacksonville, the Rams, the Panthers and Titans count no less in the standings.

If the Vikings, with journeyman Sam Darnold at quarterback and a defense largely driven by schemes rather than personnel, are viewed as such, then the Bears can certainly factor into the Super equation. If the Bears get one of the top edge rushers and keep him from reaching the Lions on the trade market, their chances get even better.

Unlike the Vikings, the bears defeated the rams. They beat the Lions once last year and should have done it twice.

The big stumbling block for the Bears would be the Packers, and that’s nothing new.

Still, the stakes now could be the Super Bowl and not just reaching the playoffs. And now they would be armed with a fully equipped defensive line and a nascent offense.

On SI NFC North Rankings

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

Detroit Lions

John Maakaron, Detroit Lions on SI

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

The Biggest Key to Victory in Week 8: Don’t let go. The Lions are on a roll in this matchup against the struggling Titans. Against a team that has already started selling before the trade deadline, it is paramount that there is no emotional disappointment after two big wins. Games against Green Bay and Houston loom on the horizon, but they can’t afford to look past a struggling Tennessee team.

Green Bay Packers

Bill Huber, Green Bay Packers on SI

State your team’s arguments for the Super Bowl: It would be easy to consider last week’s win over Houston as fortunate. The Texans were down four starters on defense and their elite receiver, Nico Collins, still forced the Packers into a field goal on the final play. However, the Packers have multiple ways to win games. Sure, Jordan Love can throw it and Josh Jacobs can run it. But the defense, a barrier to so many potential Super Bowl runs since their last championship in 2010, is why Green Bay won last week. The CJ Stroud-led Texans finished with 55 net passing yards.

The Biggest Key to Victory in Week 8: Protecting Jordan Love. Jacksonville has a good one-two punch of edge rushers with Travon Walker (six sacks this year) and Josh Hines-Allen (17.5 sacks last year). The secondary, however, was a train wreck. Jacksonville has allowed a league-worst passer rating with 16 touchdown passes and one interception. With the many threats Green Bay receives, there should be plenty of options – as long as Love has the time to find them.

Minnesota Vikings

Joe Nelson, Minnesota Vikings on SI

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

Chicago bears

Gene Chamberlain, Chicago favors SI

State your team’s arguments for the Super Bowl: The Bears have been playing close, Super Bowl-level defense since last season and that continues with 12 consecutive opponents failing to score more than 21 points. Their cornerback-linebacker-edge rusher combo is key with Jaylon Johnson – TJ Edwards or Tremaine Edmunds and Montez Sweat. A Super Bowl run would require Caleb Williams to stay on his current upward trajectory and the offensive line to block the run and advance for divisional play and the playoffs.

The Biggest Key to Victory in Week 8: Containment. When their defense faces Jayden Daniels, they need to keep him in the pocket. Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter can’t let Daniels come up and run away with the ball. If it’s Marcus Mariota, the same applies, because Mariota is running 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