Bears trade for Browns DT Chris Williams

The Chicago Bears are wheeling and dealing ahead of the 2024 roster cutdown deadline. General manager Ryan Poles made his second trade in two days, acquiring defensive tackle Chris Williams from the Cleveland Browns and a 2025 seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, according to multiple reports.

Williams came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020, playing under current Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. He has played in just 13 career games spanning 2021 and 2022, totaling six tackles. He spent time during the 2023 offseason with the Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Browns late in the season.

The 26-year-old comes to the Bears as an insurance policy for the defensive tackle position. Eberflus called the lack of depth "concerning" following the team's 34-21 preseason finale win over the Kansas City Chiefs, and the team could be without second-year lineman Zacch Pickens for Week 1 due to an injury suffered in training camp.

The deal for Williams is the second trade involving a sixth-round pick in as many days after the Bears acquired Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Darrell Taylor on Friday. The Bears had three picks in that round and are now down to just one. According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, the pick sent to the Browns was originally from the Miami Dolphins as compensation for wide receiver Chase Claypool last fall. They have one more selection in the sixth round, which is the conditional pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for quarterback Justin Fields. The pick can become a fourth-rounder if Fields plays 51% of the offensive snaps for Pittsburgh.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears trade for Browns DT Chris Williams