Bears named landing spot for $123 million 115-sack Steelers star LB

Bears named landing spot for $123 million 115-sack Steelers star LB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Bears’ ultimate defensive goal for the 2026-27 campaign should be simple: improve their pass-rush and run defense significantly.

The Bears led the league in takeaways a season ago (33), but allowed 134.5 rushing yards per game and didn’t disrupt opposing quarterbacks at a high enough rate.

In Heavy’s Isaac Zuniga’s opinion, trading for a Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker who’s recorded 115 sacks in his career could help solve Chicago’s defensive problems.

‘The Bears, who ranked 31st in pass-rush win rate (29%) and 26th in run-stop win rate (29%), could use a player like Watt, especially since Chicago made minimal changes on the defensive line,” Zuninga wrote Thursday.

“Chicago, according to OvertheCap.com, is projected to have roughly around $27 million in available cap in 2027 and a whopping $283 million in 2028. The Steelers won’t be able to ask for a hefty return for Watt, considering his contract and age, so it’s something that Bears general manager Ryan Poles should at the very least keep tabs on.”

Zuninga’s trade idea comes after ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Steelers want to sign to a lucrative extension and are slated to pay $14.5 million next year, potentially leaving Watt as the odd man out.