The Chicago Bears’ offensive line was disastrous against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9, continuing a trend seen throughout much of the season. With less than a day remaining to address this glaring issue, the team faces a critical decision.
A crushing defeat to the Washington Commanders in Week 8, caused by a last-second Hail Mary, is the reason for Chicago’s current .500 record (4-4) instead of the 5-3 mark they likely should have had heading into their Week 10 home game against the struggling New England Patriots.
If they win next Sunday, Chicago could have improved to 6-3, entering a grueling stretch of games—the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL—with legitimate playoff aspirations. This would have made it much easier to justify making a trade for an upgrade along the offensive line before the November 5 deadline.
With the postseason now looking less likely, protecting and building the confidence of rookie QB Caleb Williams should still give the Bears a solid reason to bolster their underperforming offensive line.
However, the available options for improvement are limited. Still, five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff is one of the top potential targets that could be acquired in the next 24 hours.
Brandon Scherff: A Luxury That the Struggling Jaguars Might Be Willing to Trade
Brandon Scherff, a guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars, could be a prime target for Chicago. Gilberto Manzano and Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated recently suggested that the Bears should pursue Scherff.
“The Bears must focus on adding offensive line help before facing their NFC North foes,” Manzano and Verderame wrote. “They won’t be able to compete with the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers unless the offensive line improves. Quality linemen are rare due to the position’s depth issues, but struggling teams may be willing to trade veterans like Scherff for draft picks. Scherff, a 10-year starter, was a five-time Pro Bowler with the Washington Commanders.”
Scherff is in the final year of a three-year, $49.5 million contract and will be 34 years old in 2025. As the Jaguars are 2-7 and heading nowhere, keeping Scherff long-term doesn’t make much sense for them. However, he could be a strong fit for the Bears on a short-term deal, such as a three-year contract with an option after two years.
Bears Offensive Line Struggling as Schedule Gets Tougher
Before their game against Arizona, Pro Football Focus ranked the Bears’ offensive line 20th in the league. Things didn’t improve against the Cardinals, as Chicago allowed 12 QB hits, 6 sacks, and saw additional injuries to their offensive line.
Starting left tackle Braxton Jones missed the game, while starting right tackle Darnell Wright was injured during the game and left in the fourth quarter. Left guard Teven Jenkins, Chicago’s top lineman in recent years, has also been hurt since the week before against Washington. Meanwhile, the Bears coaching staff has benched former starting right guard Nate Davis twice this season and may be looking to move on from him before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
While Scherff wouldn’t solve all of these issues, his presence alongside a somewhat healthy Jenkins could at least stabilize the interior of the line while the tackle positions work to recover for the final stretch of the season.