The Bears traded a defensive lineman for the second straight day on Saturday, sending a sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for defensive lineman Chris Williams and a seventh-round pick.
Williams gives the team additional depth in the middle of the line, with Zach Pickens’ status unclear. Pickens left practice early last week and has not participated in team practices since. The expectation was that Pickens would be relied upon as a starter on the inside of the line this year. Beyond him, the team doesn’t have many other options. The group consists of fourth-year player Byron Cowart, second-year player Michael Dumfour and a trio of UDFAS rookies, Jaylon Hutchings, Dashon Mallory and Keith Randolph Jr. Many of those players aren’t expected to make the 53-man roster when the team cuts to 90 players on Tuesday.
Williams is entering his third NFL season, but he doesn’t have much playing experience. He’s played in 13 games, but has only taken 107 defensive snaps. However, Williams does have experience with head coach Matt Eberflus. They spent two years together in Indianapolis in 2020 and 2021. Eberflus was the Colts’ defensive coordinator at the time. Williams was an undrafted free agent in 2020 and spent the year on the practice squad, then joined the team in 2021. Williams didn’t play in a game last season, but he did go to training camp with the Chiefs.
In his 13 games, Williams has six tackles and one quarterback hit.
On Friday, the Bears sent another sixth-round pick to the Seahawks to bring in defensive end Darrell Taylor.
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