The Chicago Bears are clearly an improved team. Most of that improvement, however, has come on the offensive side of things.
Essentially, the team will be fielding an almost entirely rebuilt offense with blue chip prospect and overall no. 1 pick in this past April’s NFL draft Caleb Williams at quarterback and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron calling the shots.
To be honest, this focus on offense was much needed.
In recent days, though, the focus has turned to the defense and the team’s current weaknesses and needs. Despite a strong finish last year, the Bears do have some holes that need filling. Among their needs is in the defensive line.
Chicago Bears Find Defensive Line Upgrade?
The Washington Commanders may have a solution for Chicago’s problem in the person of defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.
At the moment, the Commanders are blessed with a bit of an embarrassment of riches in that area and just may be in a spot to trade away the seven-year veteran.
In a Bleacher Reports article written by Alex Ballentine, it’s brought up that Allen may benefit from a change in scenery and that both teams may come out winners in adeal between the Bears and Commanders.
In Ballentine’s proposed trade, the Bears would get DT Jonathan Allen. In return, the Commanders would receive a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Per Ballentine:
“At this point, Matt Eberflus’ comment that the 3-technique is the “engine” of his defense has been well-circulated. This logic was behind defensive tackles Byron Murphy II and Jer’Zhan Newton being popular mock draft selections for the Bears.
But the 2024 draft came and went, and the Bears still don’t have a dominant interior defender who can make Eberflus’ system go in Chicago.
Jonathan Allen seems to love the new direction of the defense in Washington under new head coach Dan Quinn. The question is whether the new front office feels the same love. They just handed Daron Payne a massive contract extension and drafted Jer’Zhan Newton in the draft.
The 6’3″, 300-pound defensive tackle is used to playing a healthy snap share. He was at 82 percent in 2022 and 79 percent in 2023. But with the added depth and additions on the defensive line that also includes former second-round pick Phidarian Mathis and former Dallas Cowboys selection John Ridgeway III, it’s fair to wonder if his snap share will stay the same and whether he’s in the Commanders’ plans beyond 2024.
If he’s not, then Allen might be better off in a situation where he’s still a featured player. That would surely be the case in Chicago, where he would reunite with former Commanders teammate Montez Sweat and net a similar trade return to what the New York Giants got for Leonard Williams.”
But Does the Trade Make Sense?
On paper, the deal makes a lot of sense for both teams– especially if the Bears are in “win-now” mode as many experts and analysts believe. The Commanders, meanwhile, are clearly in rebuild mode and might be eager to unload some salaries while clearing up some space for younger players.
Allen is still only 29 and still within the bounds of his physical prime. He can– and will– be an asset to a winning team in the here and now and he certainly seems to be the kind of player who wants to play in as many snaps as possible. He’ll get those opportunities in Chicago…but maybe not so much in Washington.
The Bears were recently mentioned as a possible landing spot for veteran free agent defensive end Calais Campbell, who is at the very end of a long and impactful career. Allen at defensive tackle, though, still has plenty left in his tank and wouldn’t need to be cycled in and out as a role player.
Chicago might be wise to consider pulling the trigger on this proposed trade.
