Bears address DT depth, trade for Browns’ Chris Williams

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears acquired defensive tackle Chris Williams and a 2025 seventh-round pick from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a sixth-round selection Saturday.

Williams is the second defensive addition the Bears have brought in via trade in as many days. They sent a sixth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks on Friday for Darrell Taylor.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus expressed concerns over the team’s depth at defensive tackle after an injury to reserve Zacch Pickens put the second-year tackle’s status for Week 1 in question.

Williams, 26, spent the first two years of his career in Indianapolis, where Eberflus was the defensive coordinator. Williams then spent time on the practice squads in Kansas City and Cleveland. He appeared in 13 games with the Colts and registered six tackles.

He was listed as a fifth-string defensive tackle on Cleveland’s depth chart and was considered a long shot to make the roster. In his final preseason game with the Browns, Williams had two sacks, including one that led to a safety.

The seventh-rounder that Chicago gave to Cleveland was originally acquired in a trade that sent wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins in October. The Bears now have seven draft selections in 2025: a first, two seconds (one from Carolina), a third, a fifth, a sixth (via Pittsburgh) and a seventh (via Cleveland).

Ahead of roster cut-down day, the Bears placed running back Ian Wheeler (ACL) and wide receiver  Nsimba Webster (groin) on injured reserve and waived safety  Douglas Coleman III (neck) with an injury designation.

ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi contributed to this report.