HUGE DEAL: Bears set to Make ‘Elite’ Trade for $44 Million Defensive Star

Over the past six months, the Chicago Bears have made some significant changes to their defense, including the acquisition of pass rusher Montez Sweat and the long-term contract extension of All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Between now and the fall 2024 NFL trade deadline, might they have one more under their sleeve?

Jonathan Allen of the Washington Commanders is a defensive tackle who could elevate the Bears defense to “elite” status. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently looked at a number of the top potential 2024 trade targets whose contract situations could lead to a change of scenery over the coming months.

“If Washington is willing to make Allen available, the Chicago Bears—who acquired and extended Sweat—would be a reasonable suitor for him,” Knox said in a March 27 letter. “They added Sweat last season, and that strengthened their defensive front. With Allen, they could have a truly elite defensive line.”

The 29-year-old core member of the Commanders’ defensive line has amassed 22 sacks and 36 tackles for loss over the last three seasons, making the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022. Although Knox points out that Allen is “largely underpaid” in light of Christian Wilkins’ $110 million signing with the Las Vegas Raiders this summer and that he has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract, he is also under contract for the next two seasons in Washington.

With cap hits of about $21.4 million and $23 million for the next two seasons, respectively, Allen may be searching for a larger salary to match his excellent play. But are the Bears still in a position to splurge a lot of cash on defense?

Bears can afford Jonathan Allen, but does he fit their needs?
Allen would undoubtedly significantly improve the Bears defense’s middle line. Though Washington has divided those duties between him and Daron Payne over the previous several seasons, he is an interior game-wrecker who can play the three-technique role and makes an impact against the pass as well as the run.

Though Allen seems like a good fit on paper, the Bears would still have to spend salary-cap space and draft money to get him.

Over the past year, the Bears have made large financial commitments to one top player in each of their three defensive phases: Johnson ($76 million), Sweat ($96 million), and middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds ($72 million). Even though their defense still has to invest more in defensive tackle, it is difficult to see them paying a veteran who turns 30 in January more than $20 million a year.

Remember that the Bears prioritized Johnson and the offense above Wilkins, who is younger than Allen and coming off a good year, and they had the cap capacity to make Wilkins a contract offer comparable to the one he signed with the Raiders. Wilkins turned down the offer.

If the Commanders chose to deal Allen at all, they would probably seek at least a second-round draft selection. Although the Bears have two second-round picks in 2025, it would make sense to use the selections to select a younger player in the draft.

The Commanders themselves are possibly the largest obstacle as well. During this week’s NFL league meetings, newly appointed general manager Adam Peters made it clear that the Commanders are “not interested in trading” Allen. Although attitudes can shift, particularly if Allen’s side begins to press for a raise, the situation is still too confusing to navigate.

The NFL Draft may produce a star defensive tackle for the Bears.
Thoughts of Jonathan Allen are pleasant. Their defensive front would undoubtedly provide dominating results if you loaded up EA’s Madden 24 and completed the necessary steps to add him to the Bears. But unlike Madden, this is real life, and the Bears have more practical and less expensive options than a high-profile trade to add star power to the center of their defensive line.

Have you heard about the NFL draft in 2024?

The Bears have made fewer draft picks in the last month. They sent the better of their two fourth-round selections to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for wide receiver Keenan Allen, and they transferred their fifth-round selection to Buffalo in exchange for guard/center Ryan Bates. Chicago also traded quarterback Justin Fields, who only yielded a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick that can, at most, upgrade to a fourth, without adding any 2024 picks.

Even still, if the Bears feel that a great defensive lineman is what their defense has been lacking, they have the financial means to add him. The Bears will probably select Byron Murphy II of Texas and Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois with their second first-round pick, which will come at No. 9 overall. If the Bears trade back into the mid-to-late teens of the first round, both options become more viable even though they might be too expensive for a top-10 pick.

The Bears would have more alternatives to address their defensive line needs if they trade back and get an additional Day 2 pick. There are a few strategies that could get them out of the draft with an edge rusher and a three-tech if they fall back but remain in the top 20 and add a top-50 pick in the process.