Bears linked to wild trade with Steelers that would shake up the NFL

The Chicago Bears are expected to be one of the better teams in football heading into the 2026 NFL campaign, but they also have some problems that could ultimately sabotage their season.

One of the most glaring issues facing the Bears is their lack of a pass rush. Chicago totaled just 35 sacks last season and has done nothing to fix it throughout the offseason. The Bears haven’t added a single edge rusher, instead deciding to trust their triumvirate of Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker.

While Sweat is certainly fine, Odeyingbo logged just one sack in eight games last year before tearing his Achilles. Booker managed 4.5 sacks in 10 games, so there is potential there, but he is still obviously unproven.

Chicago could still add a veteran in free agency, such as Jadeveon Clowney, but the team does not appear all that interested in doing so right now. But could the Bears pull off a surprise trade for an edge rusher before the start of the regular season?

Michael Haney of Bear Goggles On feels it’s a possibility, linking Chicago to a blockbuster trade for Pittsburgh Steelers star Alex Highsmith.

Chicago Bears linked to trade for Alex Highsmith

Because the Steelers just signed Nick Herbig to an extension, many feel that the writing is on the wall for Highsmith, who has two years remaining on his contract and carries cap hits of $20 million and $21 million, respectively, in both seasons.

Haney has proposed a deal in which the Bears would send cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and a third-round draft pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Highsmith and a seventh-rounder, which would give Chicago a terrific pass-rushing duo.

“Alex Highsmith would finally solve the Bears’ need for a pass rusher. He put up 9.5 sacks last year in just 13 games and already has a double-digit-sack season under his belt. It would take significant draft capital from Chicago to sweeten the deal, but the juice might be worth the squeeze here,” Haney wrote.

Injuries have been an issue for Highsmith over the last couple of seasons, as he played in only 24 games between 2024 and 2025. When he is healthy, however, he is a terrific player who would fit very nicely alongside of Sweat. At that point, Odeyingbo and Booker would provide Chicago with a couple of nice depth pieces.

Of course, this trade would open up a problem for the Bears at cornerback, as moving the embattled Stevenson would destroy their depth at the position, but for Highsmith, it just might be worth it.

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