Chicago Bears: Six More Players Team Should Trade

Dec 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (90) against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. The Lions defeated the Bears 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

When Fangio arrived in Chicago as the Bears’ defensive coordinator, we all knew the fit with the current team’s personnel was not ideal. At the time, most people (myself included) figured that Fangio would just figure it out, and his coaching ability would mask the lack of players who truly fit his 3-4 defense.

Well, through three games, that clearly is not the case. Not only does the Bears’ defense lack talent, very few of their players actually fit well into what Fangio is trying to do. This is just a recipe for disaster, and that is exactly what has happened so far.

This week, the Bears will get a boost on their defensive front, as Jay Ratliff returns after serving his three-game suspension. Ratliff is the most talented defensive lineman on the Bears’ defense, and he will make an impact on the field pretty much no matter what. However, he simply is not a good fit for Fangio’s 3-4 scheme either.

Similar to Sutton, Ratliff is a traditional 4-3 defensive tackle who uses his power, quickness and explosiveness to make plays in the backfield with regularity. I am sure he will perform just fine as a 3-4 defensive end, or even at nose tackle, but the Bears simply will not be using Ratliff to the best of his abilities.

They might as well try to trade him to a team that will use him correctly. Ratliff is a strong and experienced player who can make a difference for a contending 4-3 team. Assuming he looks good in his return, the Bears would likely get some nice value in return for Ratliff.

Potential Fits: Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.

Next: The Best Offensive Player