The Seattle Seahawks have fired the first shot ahead of the 2026 trade deadline. They flipped two draft picks to the Indianapolis Colts for 8-time Pro Bowl guard Quentin Nelson. It seems pretty clear the team is eager to chase a second straight Super Bowl title and is willing to gamble on a half-year rental (Nelson is a free agent in 2027) to get it done. This has naturally kicked off a firestorm on social media, with fans calling on their teams to start making movies. The Chicago Bears are atop that list. That falls at the feet of general manager Ryan Poles.
While the man has never been afraid to make aggressive moves at the trade deadline before, he’s been rather quiet for the past two years. The Bears opted for bargain purchases in 2024 and 2025, adding depth pieces that didn’t really shift the bottom line. Now with the team 5-2 and well-positioned for a deep playoff run, it feels like the time is perfect for a genuine big swing. However, it is possible Poles may not feel the same way. He may not think the risk is worth it, especially after watching events elsewhere.
Ryan Poles may not want to become like the Rams.
Don’t forget, Los Angeles went all in this offseason with two blockbuster trades. First was for Pro Bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie from Kansas City. Then they nabbed superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett from Cleveland. Those two moves cost the Rams two 1st round picks, a 2nd round pick, two 3rd round picks, and two late-round picks, as well as pass rusher Jared Verse. All of that has rewarded L.A. with a 3-4 record and a distant third place in their own division.
Acquired Player Trade Partner Assets Given Up
Trent McDuffie Kansas City Chiefs 2026 1st-round pick (No. 29 overall)2026 5th-round pick2026 6th-round pick2027 3rd-round pick
Myles Garrett Cleveland Browns Jared Verse (Edge Rusher)2027 1st-round pick2028 2nd-round pick2029 3rd-round pick
Ryan Poles is not a win-now guy.
That is to say, he’s never been a big believer in “all-in” moves. He believes in building through the draft, maintaining a steady stream of young, cheap talent on the roster. The goal is to stay competitive over the long term. It is difficult to do that when you give up valuable assets in trades for players who may have three good years left at most. Much of this hinges on how confident Ryan Poles is in this team’s ability to win a Super Bowl. They certainly have the offense. Quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson have that unit humming.
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It comes down to the defense. Would one bold move transform that unit into something genuinely formidable? That depends on who you ask. Some feel the addition of a Jeffery Simmons or Maxx Crosby would change everything. Others think the problems with the unit go beyond just one position.
The Packers, Bears and Eagles were among teams that showed varying levels of interest in Quenton Nelson, per source. His market was strong. pic.twitter.com/pdy9AKomZ3
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 27, 2026
Resources play a part in this decision.
Right now, the Bears have all of their picks in 2027. However, they don’t have anything extra. That means if they decide to swing a deal, they will have fewer selections than normal. That makes building through the draft much more difficult. It drastically decreases your margin of error. Is Poles confident he can still make it work like that? If so, then a trade is viable. If not, don’t expect much to happen.
Here’s what we know. Throughout his tenure, Poles has never given up a 1st-round pick for a player. That means you’re likely looking at a 2nd-round pick at most. The said player would have to be under 30, probably between 26 and 28. That limits the market somewhat. Still, there are good options out there. It comes down to whether Poles can negotiate well enough to persuade teams to turn down potentially better offers. We’ll have an answer to these questions by next week.
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