One thing to remember about Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles is he never stops looking for ways to upgrade his roster. Just because the primary portion of the offseason is over doesn’t mean opportunities have dried up. It is always possible that another possibility pops up. Poles aims to be ready when it comes. Well, that opportunity might be arriving. Most people believe the Bears didn’t do enough to upgrade their running back position. Much of that was due to the NFL draft not falling their way. Free agency was never an option. That leaves one possible avenue left: a trade.
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Nobody seemed available for months. That could be changing. It appears the Buffalo Bills have reached an impasse with surprise star James Cook. The two sides haven’t been able to reach an agreement on a new contract, and the running back isn’t happy about it
He amassed over 1200 yards from scrimmage last season and scored 18 touchdowns. There is no way Buffalo could have reached the AFC championship without him. Unfortunately, the team is strapped for salary cap space. They would have to do some serious gymnastics to find more to accommodate Cook’s new deal. Word is he’s seeking somewhere around $15 million per year. If they can’t bring him down from that, a trade might be their only option. Jarrett Bailey of The Sporting News thinks the Bears have something to offer that other teams don’t
Bills receive: 2026 fourth-round pick, RB D’Andre Swift
Bears receive: RB James Cook
If the Bills were to trade Cook, they’d likely try to get a running back in return. Swift has proven to be a good starting running back when he has a good offensive line in front of him (see his 2023 season with the Eagles). Should the Bills be able to get Swift and a Day Three pick, that could be worth exploring.
The Chicago Bears would have a complete back in Cook.
Not only has he averaged 4.9 yards per carry for his career, but he has also made 97 catches. There is no reason ever to take him off the field because he can play in any situation. That is sweet music for an offensive mastermind like Ben Johnson. He is a major proponent of making every play look similar despite being different. It forces defenses to think, and that immediately diminishes their reaction time. His 4.42 speed also makes him a constant threat to take a handoff to the house. Johnson loves guys with home run ability. If the Chicago Bears can land Cook without giving up a high draft choice, that would be an easy decision.
However, are they willing to make him top-four money? Only they can answer that question. Trading Swift would free up $8 million in cap space. That would give them $22 million, which is enough to absorb Cook’s projected deal. The numbers line up. Whether Buffalo is willing to do it remains the unanswered question.
