The Chicago Bears have a quarterback on a roll. And they made Jeffery Simmons a very happy man. But they might still need another piece to help with their Super Bowl assault. And while everybody is talking about the Bears making a Khalil Mack trade, here is who they must get instead.

Mack, an edge rusher, would certainly add value to the Bears’ defense. However, the Bears, as they stand now, rank No. 6 in the NFL with 22 sacks. And that’s mostly without Simmons creating problems in the middle that can help things on the outside.

And Bears GM Ryan Poles might be better served to add a player at the cornerback position.

The Bears should target Chargers CB Donte Jackson

There has been talk of the Bears going after Tariq Woolen. The Eagles cornerback is having a strong season. And it makes sense, in one way, to trade for a player who has good numbers on his side.

However, the Bears don’t want to give up too much. This is a young roster that could be competitive for the next 3-4 years. Draft picks are valuable. And the Eagles will want a pretty penny for Woolen. Plus, Woolen's play has trailed off some in recent seasons. And he doesn't have a pick in eight games with six passes defended.

But the best route is Jackson. He has been a solid starter in his NFL career with the Panthers, Steelers, and the last two years with the Chargers. This year, he’s played in four games with limited success. Still, Jackson brings positive things to the table, according to ESPN.

“With his backfield vision and short-area closing speed, Jackson fits best as a zone corner,” Matt Bowen wrote. “He's a top-down defender with route awareness who can create on-the-ball production. Jackson has 23 interceptions and 68 pass breakups over his career.”

Those interceptions are an important part of the package. He had nine picks over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The Bears would love a playmaker in the secondary. They have a middle-of-the-pack five interceptions so far this year.

And Jackson profiles well against the run. He has a Pro Football Focus grade of 77.5 this year in a limited sample size. However, he graded out at 72.9 back in 2024.

And Jackson brings a confident approach to the field, according to Chargers.com.

“I feel like the last two seasons I've emerged, to me personally, as one of the top corners in the league,” Jackson said before the season. “That's just kind of how I feel, so just adding to that.”

And he’s a good teammate.

“I’m team first, so I don't have a personal agenda,” Jackson said. “I don't have any personal goals but to be the best teammate I could be. Just blessed to have a group of guys that share that same mindset. Nobody is selfish. Nobody has selfish goals.”

Bears have struggled in the secondary

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Jackson would be a good fit for the Bears’ tough mindset on the defensive side of the ball.

It doesn’t help cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s case that he hasn’t played well this season. That’s especially true with the two-time Pro Bowler’s tackling woes, according to Heavy.com via Yahoo.

“There's nothing that I can say as far as an excuse, a rhyme or reason,” Johnson said. “I’ve just got to get it done.”

The Bears also have Tyrique Stevenson Sr. at a starting cornerback position. But he hasn’t played well, either.

The team is hoping Coby Bryant can return from preseason surgery before the season is over, but there are no guarantees for that to happen as he tries to work his way back. The safety would help the secondary and thus take some pressure off Johnson and Stevenson.