Every offseason, Bears fans fall into the same trap.

A big name becomes available and suddenly everybody starts playing Madden.

"Trade for Crosby!"

"Just get Trey Hendrickson!"

"Call Cleveland!"

Yeah...

And while we're at it, let's see if Atlanta wants to send us Bijan Robinson for a fourth-round pick and a shot of Malört.

Let's be serious for a second.

The Bears don't need the biggest name available.

They need another problem.

Montez Sweat has proven he can be that guy. The issue is offensive coordinators know it too. Every Sunday they slide protection his way, chip him with a tight end, keep a running back in...whatever it takes to keep No. 98 from wrecking the game.

The Bears don't need another Montez Sweat.

They need the guy who makes Montez Sweat impossible to stop.

If I'm Ryan Poles, here are a few phone calls I'd be making before training camp gets underway.

Kayvon Thibodeaux — My Hill To Die On

This one...

This is personal.

I've been beating this drum for over a year now.

Last July, while everybody was photoshopping Micah Parsons into a Bears uniform and refreshing Twitter every 12 seconds waiting for Trey Hendrickson news, I kept saying one thing...

Call Joe Schoen.

Why?

Because the Giants had just drafted Abdul Carter third overall after already committing a boatload of money to Brian Burns.

That immediately made me wonder...

Would the former No. 5 overall pick out of Oregon suddenly become available?

Nothing came from it.

Fast forward to this offseason...

And somehow the fit makes even more sense.

Contract year.

Still only 25 years old.

Former Top-5 pick.

Elite athletic traits.

The potential has always been there.

Through three NFL seasons, Thibodeaux has totaled 24.5 sacks, 46 tackles for loss and 53 quarterback hits while flashing exactly why New York drafted him so highly.

But flashes aren't enough anymore.

Not in a contract year.

Sometimes players don't need a different coach.

Sometimes they don't need a different scheme.

Sometimes...

They just need a different address.

Imagine walking into Halas Hall knowing you're not fighting Brian Burns and Abdul Carter for touches.

Imagine lining up opposite Montez Sweat every Sunday knowing offensive coordinators can't double both of you.

That's a fresh start.

That's motivation.

And that's exactly the kind of gamble I'd be willing to make.

Alex Highsmith — The Name Real Football People Already Know

Casual fans hear "Steelers pass rusher" and immediately think...

T.J. Watt.

Real football people know Alex Highsmith has quietly been one of the NFL's more productive edge defenders for years.

Over six seasons, Highsmith has racked up 45 career sacks, highlighted by a 14.5-sack season in 2022, while consistently playing winning football against both the pass and the run.

But here's where things get interesting...

Pittsburgh isn't the same organization it was just six months ago.

Mike Tomlin stepped down in January after nearly two decades leading the Steelers, and Mike McCarthy now finds himself in charge of one of the league's proudest franchises.

With a new head coach often comes a fresh vision.

A different philosophy.

Different priorities.

Nick Herbig just received a massive extension.

T.J. Watt remains one of the highest-paid defensive players in football.

Eventually...

Somebody becomes the odd man out.

Could that somebody be Alex Highsmith?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

But I'd sure as hell make the call.

Because Highsmith doesn't need to be "the guy."

He just needs to keep doing what he's done his entire career.

Win one-on-one matchups.

Collapse the pocket.

Make quarterbacks miserable.

Pair him with Montez Sweat and let Dennis Allen do the rest.

That's a defensive front I don't think anybody wants to block.

Josh Sweat — The Name Burning Down Bears Twitter

If you've spent more than five minutes on Bears social media lately, you've probably seen one name over and over again.

Josh Sweat.

Reports of unhappiness surrounding the direction of Arizona's organization have made him one of the hottest speculative names heading into training camp.

And after watching Myles Garrett get traded...

I'll admit it.

A little piece of my soul died.

Because if Myles Garrett can get moved...

Anybody can get got.

Sweat has quietly put together another productive stretch of football, recording 20 sacks over the last two seasons, proving he can consistently pressure quarterbacks without needing to be the face of a franchise.

This probably feels like the most realistic move of the bunch.

The fit makes sense.

The production speaks for itself.

And Dennis Allen would have a field day moving him around the formation.

Would I be upset if Ryan Poles pulled the trigger?

Absolutely not.

But...

If you're asking me which player on this list has the highest ceiling wearing navy and orange...

I'm still taking Kayvon.

Every.

Single.

Time.

THE WOJ BOMB 💣

Jalen Carter.

I know.

He's not an edge rusher.

I don't care.

When the Bears passed on what many considered the No. 1 overall talent a few drafts ago...

I was actually ecstatic.

Not because I questioned his ability.

Hell no.

I thought it probably saved that young black man from catching a murder charge.

Because you can't convince me Matt Eberflus' weekly game plans wouldn't have had Jalen Carter ready to hand out a Latrell Sprewell special by about Week 8.

Now?

Now we're having a different conversation.

Ben Johnson is here.

Dennis Allen is here.

And Jalen Carter is entering a contract year with plenty to prove.

The talent has never been questioned.

The maturity has.

Which makes this the perfect opportunity.

You want to know what changes an entire defensive line?

Not another eight-sack defensive end.

A violent, motivated monster living in the middle of it.

Forget trying to run away from Montez Sweat.

Where exactly are quarterbacks stepping up?

Into Jalen Carter?

Good luck with that.

A front featuring Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter, Jalen Carter and whoever wins the opposite edge job suddenly becomes one of the nastiest fronts in football.

That's the type of move that changes the identity of your defense overnight.

Will Any Of This Actually Happen?

Honestly...

Probably not.

And I understand why.

Ryan Poles is clearly betting on the continued development of Austin Booker, a former fifth-round pick that I've liked since the day we drafted him.

He's betting on Shemar Turner, who's looking to bounce back after suffering a nasty ACL injury that has unfortunately kept him sidelined throughout the offseason program.

And then...

There's Dayo Odeyingbo.

I'll be honest...

I still don't understand why he was such a priority signing.

Maybe Poles sees something I don't.

Maybe Dennis Allen has a vision.

Maybe I'll be sitting here looking stupid in December.

I hope I am.

Coming off an Achilles tear, it's time to show Bears fans why the front office believed you were worth every penny.

Final Thoughts

Do I think Ryan Poles makes one of these moves?

Probably not.

But if there's one thing championship organizations understand, it's this...

Hope isn't a strategy.

Creating mismatches is.

Whether it's taking a swing on Kayvon Thibodeaux's untapped potential...

Capitalizing on a changing landscape in Pittsburgh with Alex Highsmith...

Joining the Josh Sweat sweepstakes...

Or shocking the NFL by bringing Jalen Carter to Chicago...

Every one of these moves accomplishes the same goal.

They make life easier for Montez Sweat.

And when your best pass rusher suddenly isn't carrying the entire load by himself...

Everybody eats!

Until next time...

I'm Jamor Pearson, Founder of The312Report.

By Chicago. For Chicago. 🐻⬇️