The Bears enter the draft with Nick 25 and two second-round selections (Nos. 57 and 60), positioning them to address multiple needs. Despite backing off a pursuit of veteran edge rusher Maxx Crosby earlier in the offseason, analysts expect several trades on opening night, and Chicago’s first-round leverage could be central to a bold swap.
Tyrique Stevenson has been inconsistent in Chicago, entering the final year of his rookie contract. While he looked like a long-term boundary option in 2023, his production has dipped, and pro metrics labeled him vulnerable in 2025. Chicago could choose to keep him for one more season, but a proposed trade could also clear the path for a defensive upgrade.
A key part of Moton’s pitch is the potential cap calculus: moving Stevenson would free roughly $3.67 million, but the Bears would still need to fit Thibodeaux’s $14.75 million cap hit. The swap would hinge on whether Chicago believes Thibodeaux’s upside justifies the financial commitment and the added 2027 third-rounder.
Kayvon Thibodeaux presents a high-risk, high-reward proposition. He flashed elite potential in 2023 with 11.5 sacks and strong tackle numbers, but his production declined in 2024 and 2025, totaling eight sacks across those campaigns and recording a career-low 2.5 sacks in the most recent season. The deal could set Chicago up as a win-now defense, but it also risks becoming a one-year rental if the team can’t secure long-term terms.
Overall, the trade idea is intriguing but carries notable risk. It would require careful balance of cap space, player development, and long-term strategic direction for the Bears. As draft night approaches, the possibility of swapping Stevenson and a premium first-round pick for Thibodeaux and additional Day 2 assets remains a talking point among observers.
