NFL draft day has finally arrived for the Chicago Bears, but there is still time for them to shake things up with a chaotic trade before opening night begins.
The Bears are sitting in a good position to address several of their biggest draft needs, with the No. 25 overall pick in the first round in their possession and two selections in the second round (Nos. 57 and 60). Even still, NFL analysts have predicted multiple trades will happen during the first night, especially with veterans still on the block.
While the Bears might stay out of the trade madness after backing off on their pursuit of Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby earlier this offseason, the window remains open for them to leverage their first-round selection — and, perhaps, even one of their former starting defenders — into a deal that would land their defense a talented pass rusher.
In the spirit of that thinking, Bleacher Report’s Mo Moton has projected a blockbuster draft-night trade between the Bears and the New York Giants that would involve two players and a package of draft picks, including Chicago’s No. 25 overall selection.
The projected deal: The Bears would trade inconsistent cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and their No. 25 overall pick in exchange for former first-round edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux along with the Giants’ second-rounder (No. 37) and a 2027 third-rounder.
“With limited cap space, the Bears acquire Thibodeaux, who’s in the final year of his rookie contract, and trade Tyrique Stevenson, a starting-caliber cornerback in the final term of his deal,” Moton wrote April 20. “Chicago can use the No. 37 pick on a new boundary defender for its secondary.”
Tyrique Stevenson Has Been Inconsistent in Chicago
Stevenson — who is entering the final season of his rookie contract — could make sense as a potential mid-draft trade chip given the inconsistencies over his first three seasons.
While Stevenson looked like a long-term answer for the Bears on the boundary during his 2023 rookie season, he has struggled to maintain the same level of production or uphold the same standards in pass coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, he was one of the worst outside cornerbacks in the league in 2025, giving up explosive plays at a high enough rate that opposing quarterbacks routinely targeted and picked on him.
Now, the Bears are likely to give Stevenson one more season to earn his keep and prove he belongs as a starter in their secondary, but they could realistically package him in a trade if they believe giving him up would allow them to solve another key roster need, such as Thibodeaux — a former top-10 talent with plenty of upside left as a pass rusher.
The Bears would also clear roughly $3.67 million in cap space if they cut or traded away Stevenson between now and the start of the 2026 regular season; although, in Moton’s pitch, they would still need to clear more space to fit Thibodeaux’s $14.75 million hit.
Is Kayvon Thibodeaux Worth a 12-Spot Slide in Draft?
A trade involving Stevenson could be palatable to the Bears on draft night, especially if they have their eyes on another cornerback prospect as a potential replacement for him.
Would Thibodeaux bring enough to the Bears to justify a 12-spot draft slide, though?
The trade value is justifiable if the Bears are high on Thibodeaux’s upside. The Bears would bow out of the first round, but they would retain the flexibility to move around on Day 2 with three picks in the second round — including the No. 37 overall pick that they would receive from the Giants — and another at No. 89 overall in the third round.
An extra third-round selection in 2027 might also entice them, given how much talent is expected to fill out next year’s class — especially after their comp-pick controversy.
Thibodeaux is a high-risk, high-reward entering his fifth NFL season, though.
Thibodeaux seemed on the cusp of a breakout in 2023 when he played all 17 games for the Giants and tallied career-high marks in sacks (11.5), total tackles (50), tackles for loss (12) and forced fumbles (three), but his production has gradually declined since. He played just 12 games in 2024 and a career-low 10 in 2025, tallying just eight sacks across both campaigns — with a career-low 2.5 sacks for the Giants last season.
Thibodeaux also carries the risk of becoming an expensive one-year rental for the Bears. While they will have the cap space in 2027 to re-sign whomever they choose, they might not want to do so if they reshuffle their personnel next offseason. He could also push for high-end money in free agency if he were to shine for the Bears and drive up his market.
There are certainly worse draft-night trade ideas, but it feels too risky for Chicago.
Bears Projected to Swap CB for $14.7 Million DE in Draft-Night Trade