3 Realistic Trades Chicago Bears Could Still Make Before Training Camp
3 Realistic Trades Chicago Bears Could Still Make Before Training Camp
The Giants might be looking to move off of Kayvon Thibodeaux in the final year of his rookie deal. He's not the only big-name edge rusher who could be dealt in the coming weeks, though.Jerry Markarian|
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Chicago BearsThe Chicago Bears' lack of movement in the edge rusher department this offseason has been well documented. It's been very, VERY well documented.
However, the offseason technically isn't over yet. Trades are rare this time of year, as front office personnel are usually busy vacationing in Cabo or hitting the golf course with their rich friends. Any players holding out for a new deal are usually dealt after training camp begins.
Nevertheless, they also aren't non-existent. We've already seen three players be dealt in June, and a few others have been the source of heavy trade speculation. While they won't be pulling off a Myles Garrett-esque move (or a Maxx Crosby one, for that matter) anytime soon, there are a few players that would be realistic targets for a team looking to land a literal and figurative edge.
Josh Sweat
Compensation: 2027 second-round pick
The Josh Sweat trade speculation has significantly died down in recent weeks after NFL insider Ian Rapoport said that they don't intend to move on from the star pass-rusher. However, the Browns said the same thing about Myles Garrett two years ago. And one year ago. And two months ago.
The fact of the matter is everyone has got a price, and the Cardinals might be forced to lower theirs if Sweat vows not to show up to training camp. Teams ultimately hold the cards (no pun intended) when someone is under contract, but players also have a lot of power to make a move happen if they decide to dig their heels in.
If the situation lingers into late-July, or even through the early stages of training camp, we could see them deal their former Pro Bowl pass-rusher. With Sweat coming off a career-high 12-sack campaign, he won't be had for cheap. It would probably take a second-round pick to lure Arizona into pulling the trigger. Even if the Bears' coaching staff is confident in Austin Booker (which they absolutely should be), the potential for their defensive line being book-ended by a pair of Sweats would probably be worth the price of admission for a (probably late) second-round pick.
Alex Highsmith
Compensation: 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick
The Steelers are in a similar situation with Alex Highsmith, and it honestly feels even more likely that he'll be dealt before the 2026 NFL season kicks off. Unlike Sweat, who is by far the best and most expensive player on Arizona's defensive line, the Steelers have three great edge rushers at their disposal. Highsmith is probably the third-best one, behind T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig.
One person who would definitely disagree with my previous proclamation would be Alex Highsmith. There was intrigue surrounding his absence from the early stages of mandatory minicamp, as some believed that he might be upset with being the third-highest-paid edge rusher on the team.
While he threw cold water on the narrative by returning to the practice field the following day, it's fair to wonder whether the smoke is accompanied by any fire. It's also fair to speculate whether the Steelers would be open to moving on from Highsmith for the right offer, as teams rarely break the bank on three edge rushers, and that's the spot they're in right now. His current contract is locked in through 2027, but it seems unlikely that he'll stick around beyond this season as it stands right now.
Sweat has a slight edge in terms of his pass-rush skill set, but Highsmith is a rock-solid pass-rusher in his own right. He's coming off one of the best seasons of his career, as he racked up 9.5 sacks in 13 games. He probably wouldn't cost as much in terms of trade compensation, and his contract would also make him somewhat of a bargain over the next two seasons.
Kayvon Thibodeaux
Compensation: 2027 third-round pick
Kayvon Thibodeaux is easily the biggest wildcard on this list. While he brings the most upside by a wide margin, he also comes with the lowest floor of the three edge rushers. The former fifth-overall pick is still only 25 years old, but he also only has eight combined sacks over the past two seasons.
After the Giants selected Arvell Reese with the fifth-overall pick, I expected Thibodeaux to be traded for a day two pick over the next 24 hours. While he managed to stick around after they announced that Reese would play off-the-ball linebacker, it still seems likely that Thibodeaux's days in New York are numbered. He was already their third-best edge rusher, with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter playing on both sides of their defensive line. If they want to use Reese off the edge in any capacity (which seems like a given), where does that leave Thibodeaux?
Based on the fact that he'll only be under contract for one season, I can't imagine that a team would have to give up too much to acquire his services. Still, any team willing to do so would be taking a huge gamble on his talent. It wouldn't make a ton of sense to give up a day two pick for a one-year rental, and they'd have to be willing to lock him into an extension.
As long as Thibodeaux wouldn't be looking to reset the market based on his potential alone, the Bears would make a lot of sense for the reclamation project. Montez Sweat is coming off a solid 2025 campaign, but he's also going to be 30 by the time the season rolls around. He'll also be entering the final year of his deal in 2027, and they would save $21 million by getting him off the books at that time. While Thibodeaux isn't as good as Sweat right now, he could be two years from now if he lands in the right situation. Maybe that situation could be in Chicago.
Published 16 hours ago
JERRY MARKARIANJerry Markarian has been an avid Chicago Bears fan since 2010 and has been writing about the team since 2022. He has survived the 2010 NFC Championship Game, a career-ending injury to his favorite player (Johnny Knox), the Bears' 2013 season finale, a Double Doink, Mitchell Trubisky, Justin Fields, and Weeks 8-17 of the 2024 NFL season. Nevertheless, he still Bears Down!
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
