What happened: Chicago approaches the Nov. 10 trade deadline as the fifth seed on a two-game winning streak following a 30-24 victory on Oct. 22. Acquiring DeForest Buckner required taking on $7.944 million left on an expiring contract and surrendering a 2027 fourth-round draft pick.

Why it matters: At 32 years old with 4.0 sacks this season, the three-time Pro Bowl interior pass rusher represents a short-term rental rather than a long-term building block. Preserving future draft picks and cap flexibility keeps the Bears positioned for sustained contention instead of overextending for a half-season stopgap.