Report: Bears offered third-round pick for Matt Judon

The Chicago Bears are always looking to improve their roster, which is something general manager Ryan Poles hasn't shied away from even when praising the current players in place. So it wasn't a surprise to learn that the Bears were interested in acquiring Pro Bowl edge rusher Matt Judon.

Ultimately, the New England Patriots traded Judon to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a third-round pick. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Chicago was "heavily involved" in trade talks for Judon, although it wasn't known at the time if an offer was made.

But it sounds like that was the case. According to NBC Sports Boston, the Bears offered a third-round pick of their own for Judon. It certainly speaks to how the rest of the NFL views Chicago, as New England opted for Atlanta's third-rounder instead.

Judon, 32, tallied 28.0 sacks from 2021-22, which tied for the third-most in the NFL with Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt, trailing San Francisco's Nick Bosa (34.0) and Myles Garrett (32.0). He's a four-time Pro Bowler (2019-22), and his streak was halted after he suffered a torn lower bicep in Week 4 of the 2023 season that ended his season.

While the Bears didn't land Judon, it certainly indicates that Poles is in the market for a veteran edge rusher to shore up the weakest link on the defense. Outside of Pro Bowler Montez Sweat, there aren't any proven commodities at defensive end. DeMarcus Walker had his moments, and has proven to be an asset along the interior, and rookie Austin Booker looks like he could develop into a stud.

But if Chicago is in win-now mode, which a move like this would've indicated, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Poles make a big move to pair Sweat with another big-name pass rusher. Even if it's later this season ahead of the trade deadline.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears offered third-round pick for Matt Judon