Derion Kendrick
Getty
ESPN's trade proposal would swap Rams CB Derion Kendrick with Braxton Jones.
The Chicago Bears have solved their offensive line issues for the most part this offseason, with the exception of left tackle.
Most believe that veteran and incumbent starter Braxton Jones will beat rookie Ozzy Trapilo for the starting LT job. But some analysts think that with Trapilo pushing Jones for snaps, Jones could be viewed as expendable.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell is part of the latter group, and he stirred the pot a little on August 25, tossing out a trade idea that would send Jones to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for cornerback Derion Kendrick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. On paper, it looks lopsided — Chicago giving up a young, reliable starter up front for a defensive back still trying to regain his footing after an ACL tear.
But if you squint, you might be able to kinda-sorta see the logic: the Bears need help in the secondary, Kendrick offers upside at a bargain price and Jones may not be guaranteed a long-term future in Chicago. Let’s break it all down further.
ESPN’s Trade Proposal Swaps Braxton Jones for Rams CB Derion Kendrick
Braxton Jones
GettyA new trade proposal would send Bears OL Braxton Jones to the L.A. Rams.
Below is the full trade proposed by Barnwell:
Bears get: CB Derion Kendrick, 2026 sixth-round pick
Rams get: OT Braxton Jones
“Jones entered this offseason as the presumptive starter on Caleb Williams’s blind side after starting at left tackle each of the past three seasons, but the new Ben Johnson-led regime doesn’t appear particularly fond of him,” Barnwell wrote, adding:
“The coaching staff has repeatedly said it doesn’t have a clear-cut favorite at left tackle based on what it has seen in camp, and the Bears have given reps to Jones, rookie second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo and 2024 undrafted free agent Theo Benedet, who has earned the most praise of any Chicago tackle throughout the summer.”
For Chicago, losing Jones wouldn’t be ideal, but Barnwell does have a point about CB depth. The Bears lost backup cornerback Terell Smith for the season and top corner Jaylon Johnson has missed the entire preseason with an unspecified leg injury.
If Chicago truly believes Trapilo or Benedet can grow into the LT role, moving Jones now would maximize his value. He’s in the final year of his contract, so they’d be able to get something for him instead of just letting him walk after the season.
What Would Derion Kendrick Have to Offer the Chicago Bears?
Kendrick entered the league as a sixth-round pick for the Rams in 2022 after a decorated college career split between Clemson and Georgia. His rookie season in Los Angeles showed promise. He appeared in 15 games (six starts), finishing with 43 tackles and four passes defended.
In year two, Kendrick took on a larger role, starting 12 of 17 games and amassing 49 tackles (three for loss), 10 pass breakups and his first career interception. He looked like he was settling in nicely, but his momentum came to a halt in July of 2024 when he suffered a torn ACL during practice.
The timing of the injury cost him the entire season, but the Rams still decided to re-sign him in June of 2025 after a brief waiver stint.
At 24, he’s young enough to still be viewed as a developmental piece with starting potential, provided he can stay healthy.
That said, Barnwell’s trade proposal would better serve the Rams than the Bears. Jones is a 40-game starter who, at the very least, is a solid option at swing tackle if he doesn’t win the starting job. While Kendrick is an intriguing prospect, his injury history is too much of a question mark for the Bears. Thus, this deal may not benefit Chicago as much as Barnwell thinks it would.