Bears Trade Watch: Pollard, Hall, or Kamara next in the backfield? |
Dustin Riese
· · 3 hours ago
We're only four weeks into the NFL season, and you are already starting to hear some teams linked to potential in-season trades. One of those teams is the Chicago Bears, who are starting to get mentioned as a team to watch come the deadline.
With their bye week coming in week five, Chicago would have four weeks to pull off a trade, especially if they come out of the bye week as a different-looking team ready to contend. While most people would love for this team to trade for more secondary depth or even another pass rusher, the Bears could be in the market for a running back as D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai aren't getting it done. To Monangai's credit, he is only a rookie, and it will take some time for him to settle in, but Swift was a disappointment last season, and with him averaging less than 3.7 yards per carry this season, he continues to be a disappointment in the backfield. One thing Swift has done well this season is catching the ball, but unless he can start producing more consistently on the ground, the Bears could be looking to make a change at running back, as Ben Johnson knows the value of a strong running game. De'Von Achane and Travis Etienne were two names mentioned the other day as potential trade fits, with Achane being a very likely option given the state the Dolphins are in. However, three different teams are off to rough starts this season, and all three of them possess a running back the Bears would love to have. Once the Bye week arrives, Chicago will start looking more closely at the trade market, and these are some of the names you could see the Bears pursuing once things get closer.
Ever since signing his free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans last season, things haven't gone as planned for the now 28-year-old back. Formally with the Dallas Cowboys, Pollard was often viewed as the Cowboys' second option, as he averaged less than 500 yards in his first two seasons. Then came 2021, where Pollard not only set a career high mark with 719 yards up to that point, but also settled into the starting running back role in 2022 and turned the corner as a player. In his final two years with the Cowboys, Pollard topped the 1000-yard mark both times, finishing with 1007 in 2022 and 1005 yards in 2023. He added 15 touchdowns to go with that, including a career high nine scores in 2022, as he appeared to be rounding into form as a back. That alone was a big reason why the Titans wanted him as a free agent last year and signed him to a three-year, $42 million deal. Even with the Titans struggling from start to finish, Pollard continued to be a reliable back as he set a career high mark in yards last season with 1079 and added five scores. This season has been a struggle through three games, as he has just 197 yards and one score, while averaging only 3.5 yards per carry. The longer the Titans struggle, the more likely it becomes that he could be moved, as he would pair nicely with Swift in the backfield.Tony Pollard
Breece Hall
A name that was heavily mentioned during the offseason could be seen as a target again, as Breece Hall is a name to watch in the coming weeks. With the New York Jets once again off to a 0-3 start and putting more faith in Braelon Allen that he could be their guy, the 24-year-old Hall could be expendable and would be a massive get for any team.
Although he has failed to top 1,000 yards in any of his three seasons, Hall is one of those players whose injuries have hampered him, and that has affected his overall production at times. However, when he is healthy, he has shown what he can do, logging nearly 2,500 rushing yards in his career, with a career best of 997 in 2023. He would work well in this offense and would be the perfect complementary piece to Swift, who needs a reliable second option.
Alvin Kamara
The most intriguing name on this list, and perhaps the best fit for this offense, is that of 30-year-old Alvin Kamara. Make no mistake about it, the New Orleans Saints are going nowhere this season, and if they want to start their rebuild, they are going to have to get rid of some of their higher-salaried guys.
Kamara is one of those players, and given the production he has achieved throughout his career, the Saints would be wise to shop him to see what they can get in return. Since coming into the league out of the University of Tennessee, Kamara has been one of the more well-rounded and consistent backs in the game.
That alone is hard to believe, as he has yet to top 1000 yards in any of his eight seasons, but with more than 6900 yards and 61 scores, he is much more productive than people give him credit for. A significant reason for his lack of rushing yards is his ability to catch the ball, as Kamara also has 4,809 more yards receiving and 25 scores.
He is the definition of a dual threat back, and one Johnson would love to get his hands on, as he would know exactly what to do with him. Look at what Jahmyr Gibbs has turned into. Kamara may not be that player anymore, but he once was, so by joining this offense, he could give the Bears the offensive piece they have been missing in the backfield.
