If general manager Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears are setting out this offseason to upgrade the defense in a similar fashion to how the franchise built the offense around Caleb Williams last offseason, the front office may follow a similar playbook.
Two of the moves that made the most significant impact along an overhauled offensive line last offseason were blockbuster trades to acquire All-Pro guard Joe Thuney and veteran Jonah Jackson, which helped reduce Williams’ sacks from 68 as a rookie to 24 last season, while powering one of the league’s most dominant rushing offenses.
There might be a trade that can similarly bolster the Bears’ defense to be made in the weeks ahead.
Could the Chicago Bears trade for All-Pro Budda Baker?
NFL: Chicago Bears Training Camp Jul 23, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen speaks during training camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Over in Arizona, the Cardinals are about to begin yet another rebuild, and might be looking to shift assets from their defense to finding ways to build out an offense around young wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. under new head coach Mike LaFleur.
The Bears could be a natural trade partner.
Over at Bleacher Report, NFL analyst Alex Ballentine suggests the Bears could send a third-round pick in 2026, and a fourth-round pick in 2027 to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for All-Pro safety Budda Baker.
“Chicago has a two-year window left before Caleb Williams fifth-year option kicks in,” Ballentine points out for B/R. “And they have to start paying the quarterback. A move to acquire another star defensive player in Baker is the kind of all-in move that could raise the stakes in the NFC North.
“Baker was named to his seventh-consecutive Pro Bowl this season, raking up 120 tackles for the Cardinals defense. His versatility and tackling ability make him a huge chess piece in Arizona’s defense.”
If general manager Ryan Poles is able to pull off this kind of trade, without relinquishing truly premium draft assets to do it, adding a Pro Bowl-caliber safety to the back-end of Dennis Allen’s defense would not only alleviate some concerns about the safety position but also significantly elevate the talent level there.
This is the kind of bold trade that a franchise chasing Super Bowls tries to make, and Baker could be an ideal fit to improve a defense on the rise.
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