Matt Eberflus on trades for Taylor, Williams |
CHICAGO - Less than a week removed from Chicago’s last preseason game, the Bears are already making some key roster moves with the trades for defensive end Darrell Taylor and defensive lineman Chris Williams.
Neither of these trades were intended to give Chicago a definite starter on the defensive line. Rather, it gives the Bears more flexibility in their rotation. “I think it’ll be rotational. I really do, and then we’ll play that hot hand,” head coach Matt Eberflus said. “I feel really good about all the guys that are out there right now - defensive linemen Austin Booker, Dominique Thomas and DeMarcus Walker and all those guys that are playing with (edge rusher Montez Sweat) on the one side. So, we’ll just see, make it a competition and see who’s hot and let them rush.” Taylor was drafted in the second round out of Tennessee by the Seattle Seahawks in 2021. During his three seasons with the Seahawks, he recorded 21.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss (TFLs), and 34 quarterback hits. The Bears needed a player who could record a lot of sacks, which is part of what makes Taylor such a valuable addition. This is particularly true since Chicago only gave up a sixth-rounder in the 2025 NFL Draft to acquire him. “Taylor (is a) really good edge guy in terms of (sacks). He’s had really good sack production. So, we feel good about that. I think he brings a different skill set than we have out there in terms of the way he rushes,” Eberflus said. “What I like most about him is his motor. He’s got a great motor. He finishes. He needs some refinement at the top of the rush, which we’ll work on that. But, he pursues and does the things that everybody else does in the building that we expect and what we hold guys accountable to.” Following the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bears had three sixth-rounders going into the 2025 NFL Draft - their own, one from the Miami Dolphins in the trade involving receiver Chase Claypool and the conditional sixth-rounder from the Pittsburgh Steelers that has the potential to become a fourth-rounder if he plays at least 51 percent of the offensive snaps for Pittsburgh, which looks a lot more possible now than it did when the trade occurred. Trading Claypool is part of what allowed both of these trades to happen. When Chicago acquired Williams, that trade also involved sending away a sixth-rounder, this time to the Cleveland Browns. It is not clear whether Seattle or Cleveland received the sixth-round pick from the Dolphins. Nonetheless, having this pick gave Chicago some flexibility since the Claypool trade was also why the Bears did not have a seventh-round pick before acquiring one in their trade for Williams. All in all, this is yet another example of General Manager Ryan Poles being thoughtful and specific in his trades. Specifically for Williams, who spent his rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts learning under Eberflus when he was the defensive coordinator there, this trade will offer an easier transition for him because he has some familiarity with how Eberflus runs his defense. For Chicago, he has the benefit of a strong get-off and a high ceiling. “Williams I had in Indianapolis, and he was a young guy back then, and I really commended him on the improvement he’s made over the last couple years, and he’s done a really good job of refining his skill set and his pass rush, and him playing the run. He does a really good job (of using) his length really well and he does the same thing. We don’t bring guys in here that don’t like to play hard. So, it’s important that we watch the tape, and we have guys that have our DNA to start, and then we can take them to the next level once they get here,” Eberflus said. “I like his get-off. He does have a good get-off. That’s beating the guys to the punch and getting on them fast and I think he plays the run really well, so he’s got to continue to grow in there. So, we’ve changed some things … in terms of technique, and some of the calls are different because we evolve as we go. So, he has to learn those things too.” Adjusting to being on the Bears will also be a little easier for Taylor, who already knows some of the players on Chicago’s roster, including tight end Gerald Everett and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who were both with the Seahawks in 2021. Both Taylor and Williams will benefit from experienced defensive coaches like defensive coordinator Eric Washington. “(They have) guys that he can talk to about the scheme,” Eberflus said. “The players and the coaches have been (in it over a year), and then the addition of Eric Washington in terms of having his d-line expertise in there will certainly help, along with (defensive line coach) Travis (Smith) and (assistant defensive line coach Bryan) Bing. So, it’ll be good.”
