Bears urged to trade for Steelers' shutdown CB amid major defensive issue

Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) reacts after a play during the second half of an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears scored 59 points in Week 1 and looked like maybe the best offense in the entire NFL. But there is a glaring problem: they surrendered 37 points.

While the high-scoring affair was a fun one for the Bears, the struggles of the defense present a major issue that could result in some very challenging games for the Bears.

ESPN's Ben Solak believes, even if only to a certain degree, that the Bears should go out and trade for Pittsburgh Steelers star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. With the Bears' defensive issues, Porter would fit right in as a major upgrade at a position of need.

Bears urged to trade for Joey Porter Jr. from Steelers

"I might think ... that the Bears should trade for Joey Porter Jr.," Solak writes. "If the Steelers really do want to trade him -- and my sense so far is that they don't -- I think the Bears are the right team to make the call."

Trading for Porter won't be easy, as the Steelers likely won't want to part with the star cornerback for minimal draft pick value.

Ryan Poles would have to be willing to give up quite a lot to land Porter. But considering the defensive issues with this team, it might be worth it.

Besides, the Bears have the cap space to sign Porter to a long-term deal, which would likely be the reason they have any trade interest in him in the first place.

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Spending the fortune it'll cost to land Porter without signing him to a long-term extension would be a mistake. If the Bears trade for him, they'd need to sign him.

They have the money to do so, and they also have the motivation to make a trade. Their elite offense might not last beyond this season, and if they want to make the most of this iteration of the team, trading for and signing Porter would be a great way of doing so.

Instead of a flier on a cornerback in the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft, why not send a high draft pick to the Steelers to bring in Porter to fill a desperate need?

Solak isn't outright calling for the Bears to make this trade, as it's only a thought. But if the standoff between the Steelers and Porter continues, and the Bears' defense continues to struggle, this player-and-team fit makes a lot of sense.

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