Something Weird Is Happening With Ed Oliver And It May Involve The Bears

One thing about Ryan Poles is that you never know what he might do when it comes to the trade market. He shocked everybody last season when he sent a 2nd round pick to Pittsburgh for Chase Claypool. Then he struck again two weeks ago by landing D.J. Moore in the package for the #1 pick from Carolina. If he feels a player out there can help the Chicago Bears, and the price isn’t too steep, he won’t be afraid to make a run at them. That is where defensive tackle Ed Oliver comes into play.

Something strange is going on with the former 1st round pick. He made a series of posts on Instagram that made it seem like his time with the Buffalo Bills might be coming to an end.

This might be a shock to some. Oliver has been a big part of Buffalo’s defensive success over the past four years. Despite a low sack total, he had 37 pressures and 14 hits on opposing QBs last year. Perhaps the team doesn’t think it can pay the necessary money for his upcoming contract. Now here is where it gets interesting. Anybody that goes into Oliver’s Instagram will see clips in his story section. They are of him making four specific plays. See if you can notice the similarity between them.

Ed Oliver pinpointed every NFC North team.

Maybe that’s reading too much into it. On the other hand, it could be a subtle hint. The Bears desperately need help along the defensive line. With his outstanding quickness and strength, Oliver has the skill set to be a legitimate three-technique in this defense. Chicago also has the necessary cap space to give him a new contract. It comes down to whether they are actually interested. Oliver’s lacking production (14.5 sacks in four seasons) makes one question how much he can offer the Bears. There is also the matter of his size.

Remember, Matt Eberflus constantly talks about adding players with good size and especially length. Ed Oliver is 6’1, 290 lbs, and has arms under 32 inches. That doesn’t fit the prototype. It’d be fine if his numbers were strong, but they’re merely okay. So unless the Bears are willing to make an exception to their rules, this idea feels like a stretch. It may come down to how much Buffalo expects in return for Oliver. If they’re seeking a Day 2 pick, that makes it unlikely. If it can happen for a 4th or 5th, then Chicago should explore it.