As soon as 3:00 pm CST hit on Tuesday afternoon, the 2021 NFL trade deadline has officially with the Chicago Bears opting to make no moves, further cementing the front office’s belief that the 2021 roster is good enough to compete for a playoff spot. To note, Bears general manager Ryan Pace has made just one trade in his seven-year tenrue
The annual winner or loser mantra is back when it comes to the NFL trade deadline. Ultimately, with the Bears opting not to sell, the question needs to be asked: Are the Bears losers at the trade deadline?
For a team that’s struggled through the first eight games of the 2021 regular season, key players on the Bears roster such as wide receiver Allen Robinson and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks were the subject of trade rumors, as was running back David Montgomery, who has been on injured reserve due to a sprained knee.
How one views the Bears moving forward by making no moves is certainly a point of contention. One viewpoint is Pace is confident in the Bears roster and ready to continue compete in 2021. The other viewpoint is the Bears didn’t sell because the market was dry but Chicago wants to keep the roster intact for Justin Fields development.
The 11th overall pick certainly needs as much talent on the roster to continue being successful but the Bears also needs to understand selling assets in 2021 could’ve been key for the Bears to build around Fields in 2022 and beyond.
Robinson and Hicks could’ve been shipped off for mid-round picks, which would’ve beefed up Chicago’s limited trove of day two and three draft picks. With no first or fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Bears will once again be tasked with making the most of limited draft capital.
The Bears unwillingness to ship off players with expiring contracts shouldn’t go unnoticed. For now, Pace continues to hope every domino will fall in the right direction and the Bears sneak into the playoffs. However, if not, Pace will need to dig the Bears out a hole that was created by the much-lambasted general manager.