The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams both have some very clear issues to address heading into the 2025 NFL campaign, and ESPN’s Bill Barnwell feels that the two sides could hook up on a trade to help each other out.
Barnwell has pitched an idea in which the Bears would send offensive tackle Braxton Jones to the Rams in exchange for cornerback Derion Kendrick and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, which would satisfy needs for both parties.
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“If Jones isn’t in the long-term plans for the Bears, they might want to move him now,” Barnwell wrote. “… Landing a cornerback in Kendrick, who started 18 games over his first two years in Los Angeles before missing all of 2024 with a knee injury, would give a Chicago defense without much depth at the position a potentially useful contributor as it shifts toward more aggressive coverage looks under coordinator Dennis Allen.”
Meanwhile, Barnwell notes that Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson has been dealing with blood clots, which obviously puts his 2025 season in jeopardy. Hence Los Angeles’ need for a left tackle even though it just re-signed Jackson on a lucrative long-term contract.
“Coach Sean McVay is saying all the right things about Jackson’s Week 1 availability, but there’s no guarantee he will be ready or that the issue won’t rear its head again during the regular season, as it did for New England’s Christian Barmore last year,” Barnwell wrote.
Chicago struggled with offensive line issues last season, with Caleb Williams being sacked 68 times. The Bears have significantly retooled their offensive line this offseason, but new head coach Ben Johnson does not seem to be particularly fond of Jones, who struggled in 2024 after a strong start to his career.
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Johnson may prefer to roll with rookie left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who was selected by Chicago in the second round of the NFL Draft back in April.
Also, Kendrick was rather impressive during his last healthy campaign in 2023, finishing with 49 tackles, an interception and 10 passes defended.
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