If you’re the Chicago Bears, what do you do when you already have a developing star at quarterback, yet you land the No. 1 pick in a draft when the top prospect is perceived to be a QB? Usually, a trade would be in order, and that may be exactly what the Bears general manager Ryan Poles decides to do this offseason.
After all, the Bears did earn the top pick for being the NFL’s worst team in 2022. This is a unit that has holes all throughout its roster, and adding more draft selections could go a long way toward filling out the depth chart.
While Alabama’s Bryce Young is expected to be the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he’s no sure thing. The same goes for all the other players in the incoming draft class, but what’s better? Starting from scratch at quarterback again, which would just be another gamble on a top QB prospect? Or continue to see what you have with Justin Fields, who could very well go from star to superstar in the next few seasons?
It’s a huge organizational decision, and it’s one the Bears are expected to delve deeply into over the next couple of months.
One NFL insider, Daniel Jeremiah, suggested that he’d be surprised if the Bears held onto the No. 1 overall pick in April. This goes along with what many others anticipate as well, with Chicago likely keeping their options open for as long as possible. But if the Bears do trade the top pick, what else could they be targeting?
Related: Chicago Bears mock draft 2023: Building around Justin Fields in 2023 NFL Draft
NFL Draft expert suggests Chicago Bears don’t want to trade down very far
According to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, the Bears could very well trade their top selection in April’s draft, but if they do, it won’t be so far down the board that they’d miss out on the best defensive players available.
Some of the prospects widely considered to be worthy of top five picks include:
- Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
- Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
- Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
- Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
As you can see, all of these prospects would bring a much-needed presence to the trenches or off the edge in Chicago at Soldier Field. For a team that allowed the most points in football a season ago, whether it’s the pass rush or clogging up rushing lanes, addressing the defense is a must.
Basically, don’t expect the Bears to trade out of the top five if they do move down the draft board. This could mean Chicago works out a trade with teams like Houston, Arizona, Indianapolis, or Seattle. But probably not the Seahawks, as they seem more likely to retain Geno Smith than start over at QB.
Related: 2023 NFL Draft rumors: Latest news, buzz on top draft prospects