The Chicago Bears may not need to wait until the 2025 offseason to part ways with Nate Davis, a $30 million disappointment, as the team has been receiving trade inquiries about the veteran guard ahead of the approaching NFL trade deadline. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Davis is one of the players generating interest before the November 5 deadline. Despite his 67 career starts, the Bears benched the 28-year-old right guard in Week 3 and haven’t reinstated him.
Rapoport described Davis as a “potential key depth piece for a team in need,” while CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani also listed him as a top trade candidate at the guard position. Dajani highlighted Davis’ starting experience as a primary draw, noting that the Bears would likely be open to offers for him.
Davis, who signed a three-year deal with Chicago in 2023, was a healthy scratch in Week 6. Initially expected to help stabilize the Bears’ offensive line, his inconsistent play and injuries led to his removal from the rotation. Instead of keeping him as a backup, the team opted for practice-squad player Bill Murray, signaling Davis’ declining role.
Things could worsen for Davis as the Bears are expected to activate Lucas Patrick from injured reserve soon, which would further diminish the need for Davis. Trading him before the deadline would be ideal for the Bears, as it would save them money and potentially bring in draft capital. If they wait until the 2025 offseason to cut him, they would save $9.5 million in cap space but incur a $2 million dead-cap hit.
A trade now would allow the Bears to offload Davis’ contract and possibly gain a mid-to-late Day 3 draft pick, a preferable outcome to simply releasing him next year.
