What happened: Chicago pursued three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner before Indianapolis agreed to send him to San Francisco for a 2027 fourth-round pick, per Jordan Schultz and Ian Rapoport. Buckner preferred a reunion with the 49ers, leaving the Bears searching the defensive trade market and linked by rival executives to edge rusher Khalil Mack.

Why it matters: Riding a two-game winning streak after beating New England 30-24 on Oct. 22, Chicago holds the NFC's No. 5 seed and is looking to reinforce its pass rush for a playoff push. Meanwhile, San Francisco (6-1, No. 2 seed) addressed a defense that ranked 24th in NFL pressure rate by landing Buckner following a 29-20 loss at Atlanta. Indianapolis (2-5, No. 12 seed) has pivoted into a full deadline sell-off on a three-game skid after firing general manager Chris Ballard and dealing six-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle for 2027 third-round and 2028 fifth-round selections.

What to watch: Chicago has until the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline to complete a deal for Mack or another defensive target as rival front offices gauge the pass-rush market.