The Houston Texans and defensive end JJ Watt have parted ways, and now the former Wisconsin standout hits free agency.
While Watt is entering the latter stages of his career, he is still a valuable asset to any defense. Some Bears fans and Chicagoans are day dreaming of a Bears-Watt union.
It makes sense on the surface. His wife Kealia plays for the Chicago Red Stars and he does love Portillo's.
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But the Bears already have Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn on opposite ends of the defensive line, and both have big contracts.
Mack is owed $17.246 million in 2021, but there is a potential out at the end of the season. Quinn is set to make $11.6 million in 2021 and there is an out at the end of the season as well.
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However, the Bears need to focus on upgrading the quarterback position, not the defense.
The Texans also have a quarterback the Bears have an eye on in Deshaun Watson. And with a need whole on the defensive side of the ball, could Mack (or Quinn) be trade bait to land Watson.
Trading Mack frees up salary for the Bears to add a quarterback, and Mack fills the Texans' need on defense created by Watt's departure. And maybe the Bears could even add Nick Foles to address the Texans' quarterback need if they trade Watson.
It'd be very similar to a hypothetical trade our own Adam Hoge explored with the Cowboys for Dak Prescott.
It's a win-win in our very, definitely not biased and extremely optimistic view point. And we're not even looking at dead cap issues that could all derail this.
But we can dream.
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