The Chicago Bears have the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and are likely to make a deal with a quarterback-needy team to swap picks. However, executives around the league do not think the Bears will get the massive return some expect.
With the NFL Draft a couple of months away, the speculation is already in full gear on where various prospects in this year’s class will land in April. However, the biggest storyline heading into the event is if the Chicago Bears will remain at No. 1. The draft is the top opportunity to acquire a future franchise QB, however, Chicago is reportedly confident that incumbent Justin Fields is the man to lead their offense into the future.
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It is why they are expected to trade out of their spot and have many suitors for their pick, including the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and Carolina Panthers. While most would assume, the top pick in a draft with two highly touted QB prospects — CJ Stroud and Bryce Young — would give them a lot of trade leverage, it seems that may not be the case.
On Thursday, ESPN NFL reporters Matt Miller and Courtney Cronin spoke with executives around the league about the Chicago Bears draft situation and surprisingly revealed that “the overwhelming feedback was that the Bears won’t get a king’s ransom for the No. 1 pick.” This means don’t expect a couple of first-round picks or multiple second-rounderss Bears fans.
Indianapolis Colts viewed as likely NFL Draft trade partner for Chicago Bears
In the story, the reporters took a look at the strong candidates to make a deal with Chicago, and among the various NFL executives they spoke to, the common opinion was that the “Indianapolis [Colts] had the best situation in terms of draft capital and trading the pick out of the NFC.”
While a deal with the Texans could achieve the same goal of moving the pick to an AFC team, the belief was that Indianapolis could offer a stronger overall return despite Houston including their pick at No. 2. The league decision-makers felt that Indy would also include a second-round pick in the deal — along with the fourth overall selection. Something Houston might not acquiesce to.
That is a big difference if that is the way things play out since the Chicago Bears do not have a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.