After the Chicago Bears’ win against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night, which concluded their 2024 preseason schedule, head coach Matt Eberflus acknowledged concerns about the team’s depth at the defensive tackle position.
As teams prepare to finalize their 53-man rosters before Tuesday’s deadline, the Bears were expected to be in search of a pass rusher and defensive tackle this weekend.
On Friday, the Bears addressed their need for a pass rusher as they acquired Darrell Taylor from the Seattle Seahwaks for a sixth-round pick. The Bears had three 2025 sixth-round picks at their disposal entering the weekend and on Saturday, they included a second sixth-round pick in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
On Saturday, the Bears sent a sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for defensive tackle Chris Williams.
The Bears have acquired DT Chris Williams (and a seventh-round pick) from the Browns for a 2025 sixth-round pick (from MIA – Claypool trade).
Williams was with Matt Eberflus in Indianapolis. Had two sacks and four QB hits for Cleveland this preseason.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) August 24, 2024
Matt Eberflus can rest easy with the Bears’ latest addition for defensive tackle depth.
As Kevin Fishbain points out, the sixth-round draft pick the Bears traded for Williams was originally obtained from the Miami Dolphins last season in the Chase Claypool deal. The Bears now have one remaining sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which they received from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for quarterback Justin Fields. This pick could potentially upgrade to a fourth-round selection if Fields participates in more than 51% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps this season.
Similar to the addition of Taylor, the Bears are bringing in a defensive lineman, Williams, who is already acquainted with the Cover-2 system that head coach Matt Eberflus employs. With the need for depth at defensive tackle, Williams provides a veteran presence to strengthen the rotation.
The grade for this trade is a solid B for the Bears. The advantage of holding multiple late-round picks is precisely to facilitate trades like the one the Bears made on Saturday, which bolsters their depth at a crucial position in Eberflus’ defense.
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