What happened: After checking in on Indianapolis Colts veterans DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson before Tuesday's deals sent Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers and Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks, the Chicago Bears are evaluating defensive reinforcements across the league. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen identified former Bears pass rusher Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers as a fit for a quality Day 3 pick alongside Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat, Tennessee Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II, and Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer also connected Chicago to interior linemen Daron Payne of the Washington Commanders and Grover Stewart of the Colts, while ESPN's Rich Cimini noted frustrated New York Jets cornerback Nahshon Wright could be available for a late-round pick or pick swap.

Why it matters: Riding a two-game winning streak as the NFC's No. 5 seed, Chicago needs healthy bodies in an injury-depleted secondary and added pass-rush disruption along the defensive line. Taylor offers direct scheme familiarity from his stint with the New Orleans Saints and could fill immediate perimeter or slot duties after being a healthy scratch in Tennessee, while Wright is seeking a defensive role back in Chicago. Potential sellers including the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins could also expand the market for contenders looking to upgrade both for 2026 and future seasons.

What to watch: Chicago has until the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 10, to finalize terms on a defensive addition with sellers across the league.