The Athletic Names Bears as Potential Suitor for Grover Stewart

Bears Emerge as Potential Trade Suitor for Massive Defensive Tackle

The Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles face critical decisions heading toward the November 10 NFL trade deadline, with Indianapolis Colts veteran defensive tackle Grover Stewart having drawn interest as a potential roster addition. Poles has maintained an aggressive roster-building philosophy over the years in Chicago, and while that approach cooled somewhat over the past year, the team sits within striking distance of being a Super Bowl favorite in the NFC.

Send Grover Stewart over to the Bears

— https://x.com/TheJackCarey/status/2115184793130336315

League activity ahead of the deadline is already picking up. Major moves have crossed the wire across the league, including Joey Porter Jr. landing with the Dallas Cowboys, Quenton Nelson moving to the Seattle Seahawks, DeForest Buckner joining the San Francisco 49ers, and Marvin Harrison Jr. heading to the Houston Texans. Despite this flurry of high-profile transactions, concrete reports confirming that the Bears are actively pursuing trades remain absent.

Evaluating the Colts Trade Candidate

The discussion surrounding Chicago’s potential interest stems from a recent 50-player trade candidate big board published by The Athletic. The outlet identified Stewart as a prime target for several franchises, naming the Bears alongside the Minnesota Vikings, 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants.

Grover stewart and deforest buckner of the indianapolis colts on the field in the game

Stewart is currently playing in the final year of a three-year contract extension he signed in 2024. That timeline places him alongside Nelson and Buckner as Colts veterans operating on expiring deals. Having spent all 10 of his NFL seasons in Indianapolis, Stewart represents a deeply experienced anchor in the trenches.

His performance on the field shows steady resilience. Although he stumbled in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens—which included a missed tackle on a touchdown run—Stewart rebounded quickly to play with consistent discipline against the run over the following five weeks. Known as a stout and experienced nose tackle, he has also generated at least 15 pressures in six consecutive seasons spanning from 2019 to 2025.

Indianapolis Shifts to Sell Mode

The Indianapolis team changed dramatically when the franchise traded both Nelson and Buckner. Those moves signal a clear sell mode for the Colts, making it increasingly likely that Stewart will also be made available before the November cutoff.

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Stewart has appeared in all seven games for Indianapolis this season, compiling 22 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one defended pass. Last season, across 17 games, the 33-year-old lineman tallied 55 tackles, 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, and four defended passes.

Whether Ryan Poles and the Chicago front office ultimately pull the trigger on a deal for Stewart remains entirely unconfirmed. For now, the veteran defensive tackle stands as a name to monitor closely as the trade deadline draws nearer.