Bears Were ‘Deep in Talks’ for Top CB Before Trade Deadline: Report
When training camp began for the Chicago Bears in 2025, most considered the secondary to be one of the team’s strongest units.
Then, the injuries happened. All-Pro Jaylon Johnson opened camp on the non-football injury list, before he eventually landed on injured reserve. Stud nickel corner Kyler Gordon followed a similar path. Sidelined early in camp by a hamstring injury, he later returned only to suffer another setback that also sent him to IR.
Rookie Zah Frazier never saw the field, either, after being placed on the reserve/NFI list before the season began. Top backup Terell Smith’s year ended prematurely as well, with a season-ending ankle injury. Tyrique Stevenson, who has missed some time with various ailments this season, has been a bright spot, and heading into Week 10, he’s the only regular starter healthy and available.
That would explain why the Bears almost traded for cornerback Alontae Taylor before the trade deadline, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Ian Rapoport: Chicago Bears ‘Were in Deep’ Trade Talks for Saints CB Alontae Taylor
GettyThe Chicago Bears were in play to make a big trade for Alontae Taylor of the New Orleans Saints.
“Sources say the Bears were deep in talks for Taylor before a deal ended up falling through,” Rapoport wrote on November 8. “Taylor, who is in a contract year and likely will get paid this offseason, spent time with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen when he was head coach in New Orleans and the fit made sense. Alas, the Bears ended up dealing with the Browns for pass rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.”
Taylor, 26, was a second-round pick (No. 49 overall) by New Orleans in 2022. He spent the early years of his career playing for Allen when Allen was the Saints’ head coach. That familiarity clearly mattered — Chicago has already shown that its new defensive coordinator has some sway when it comes to personnel decisions. We saw that when the team signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency over a week ago.
Taylor has been a steady cover corner with solid production over his career. He has 45 passes defended, eight QB hits and 18 tackles-for-loss so far in 56 career games (45 starts).
He can play both press and in man — something Chicago badly needed after its recent rash of DB injuries. He’s also in a contract year, which could shed some light on why the Saints took calls and why the Bears thought they might be able to pry him loose at a non-premium price.
Does This Mean the Bears Might Try Harder to Sign Free Agent CB Asante Samuel?
Considering Rapoport framed Taylor as one of the legit names who drew real interest from the Bears before things cooled, it’s fair to wonder whether missing out on him makes them more likely to sign free agent corner Asante Samuel, who has a workout scheduled with Chicago on November 11.
Samuel’s schedule this coming week is a busy one: He also has already visited with the Panthers, Packers and Vikings, and visits with the 49ers and Steelers are also on the docket after Week 10.
Even as a non-move, though, Chicago’s pursuit of Taylor is revealing. It shows the Bears don’t feel comfortable with what they currently have at corner, even with Gordon, Johnson, Smith and Stevenson all under contract. Gordon in particular has had injury issues every season he’s been in the league, and there’s no telling how long Smith’s recovery will take.
It’ll also be interesting to see how the Bears approach adding to the CB position when the offseason hits. If Taylor reaches the market in 2026 — or if the Saints revisit trade talks — the Bears are a likely landing spot, particularly if they don’t sign Samuel.
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Just hours before the NFL trade deadline, a surprise deal sent shockwaves through the league: the Baltimore Ravens traded Jaire Alexander and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles
For Jaire Alexander, though, this trade isn’t just business — it’s a dream fulfilled.
According to sources close to the situation, Alexander had long been drawn to Philadelphia, fascinated by
“There are places where football feels like a job, but in Philadelphia, it’s a mission. I’ve watched this team for years — the way they fight, the way the city breathes with them — and I knew if I ever got the chance, I wanted to be part of that. Now that it’s real, I’m ready to bring my heart to the field.”
That statement quickly went viral across social media, leaving Eagles fans both excited and curious. Alexander — a player celebrated for his elite talent but also known for his fiery personality and outspoken nature — now joins a locker room already stacked with strong voices, including
Will his arrival unite the defense under one vision, or will it ignite a new level of intensity and competition inside the locker room?
Only time will tell. But one thing is certain — Jaire Alexander has finally landed where he believes football isn’t just a game, but a mission shared by an entire city.
