Bears trade pitch would address most pressing need with Super Bowl champion

The Chicago Bears are expected to return as one of the top contenders in the NFC and compete for a second straight division tackle.

However, there are still a few glaring needs on the roster that can be addressed ahead of the 2026 season, especially at edge rusher.

Outside of Montez Sweat, Chicago's edge rusher room is pretty lackluster. The team will be relying on Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker to provide viable production opposite Sweat, and that isn't a good gamble to take.

That said, an NFL analyst believes the Bears should hit the trade market to fill their pass-rushing need and call an NFC West squad about the availability of their top edge rusher.

Bears linked to trade for Josh Sweat with Cardinals

Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport believes the Bears should consider trading for Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat, who has been the subject of trade rumors over the last month.

The proposed deal would have Chicago sending a conditional third-round pick in 2027 and an additional Round 3 selection in 2028 for Sweat.

"The Bears are the defending NFC North champions and a team that badly needs to upgrade the pass rush after logging just 35 sacks last season. Pairing Josh Sweat and Montez Sweat would accomplish that goal—and almost guarantee that multiple broadcasters mistakenly call them brothers or cousins, even though they are not related," Davenport wrote.

Sweat didn't attend Arizona's OTA sessions, and though the star pass rusher was with the team for mandatory minicamp this week, a trade still feels possible.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Cardinals have received calls on Sweat this offseason, and there was also a report earlier this offseason that the 29-year-old requested a trade out of Arizona, primarily due to the firing of head coach Jonathan Gannon, with whom Sweat shares a close relationship.

There's a ton of smoke around a Sweat trade for the Cardinals, and it would make sense for the franchise to move on from him, given they're in rebuild mode and the 2018 fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles isn't a young developmental player for the future.

Chicago would be a logical landing spot for Sweat. The Super Bowl LIX champion would pair well with Montez Sweat and give the Bears a much-needed pass-rushing boost.

In 17 games for Arizona in 2025, Sweat tallied 12 sacks and 47 quarterback pressures. The Florida State has posted at least 6.5 sacks in each of the last four seasons, including two double-digit sack campaigns, with the other coming in 2022.

Trading two Day 2 picks for Sweat would be a bit of a steep price, but if Chicago is serious about being a Super Bowl contender, they should do what it takes to acquire the veteran pass rusher and take Dennis Allen's defense to the next level.