Bears Eyeing Aggressive Trade Up to Land Top Pass Rusher

Chicago could move up to No. 11 overall to select one of the draft's elite edge defenders.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:24pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a football player in motion, their body and limbs broken down into sharp, angular geometric shapes in shades of navy, orange, and green, conveying the raw power and dynamism of an elite pass rusher.An aggressive trade up the draft board could land the Bears an elite pass rusher to bolster their defense.Chicago Today

The Chicago Bears are considering an aggressive trade up from the 25th overall pick to the 11th selection in the 2026 NFL Draft in order to land one of the top pass rushing prospects. ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed a trade that would send the Bears' 25th pick, 57th pick, and a 2027 second-rounder to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the 11th, 151st, and 227th picks this year, plus a 2027 fifth-rounder. This bold move would give the Bears a chance to select Ohio State's Arvell Reese, Texas Tech's David Bailey, or Miami's Ruben Bain Jr., all of whom are considered elite edge rushers in this class.

Why it matters

The Bears' defense has struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and adding an elite pass rusher could transform their entire unit. With the team looking to take the next step and become a Super Bowl contender, landing a game-changing edge defender through this aggressive trade would be a major coup for the franchise.

The details

According to Barnwell's proposal, the Bears would send their 25th overall pick, 57th overall pick, and a 2027 second-round selection to the Dolphins in exchange for the 11th, 151st, and 227th picks in 2026, plus a 2027 fifth-rounder. This would allow Chicago to potentially land one of the draft's top edge rushers, with Reese, Bailey, and Bain all considered potential top-10 picks.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26.

The players

Arvell Reese

A dominant pass rusher from Ohio State who is projected as a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

David Bailey

A standout edge defender from Texas Tech who is also viewed as a likely top-10 selection in this year's draft.

Ruben Bain Jr.

A talented pass rusher out of the University of Miami who could be an option for the Bears at No. 11 overall.

Ryan Poles

The general manager of the Chicago Bears who would be responsible for executing any potential trade up in the draft.

Ben Johnson

The offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears who would work closely with the team's new pass rusher.

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What they’re saying

“I wonder if Ryan Poles and the Bears might try to be more aggressive. This would really make sense only if one of the top pass-rush prospects, such as David Bailey, Ruben Bain Jr., or Arvell Reese, fell out of the top 10.”

— Bill Barnwell, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Bears will need to determine if they have the necessary draft capital to execute this trade up to No. 11 overall. If they can make the numbers work, they'll then have to wait and see if one of the elite pass rushers they covet falls to that spot on draft night.

The takeaway

This aggressive trade proposal highlights the Bears' desperation to find an elite edge rusher who can transform their defense. While it would be a risky move, landing a game-changing pass rusher like Reese, Bailey, or Bain could be a franchise-altering addition for a team on the cusp of Super Bowl contention.