The Chicago Bears, according to most experts and insiders, are almost guaranteed to draft USC blue chip quarterback prospect Caleb Williams with their first-overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. To many observers, Williams could be a special one — a franchise quarterback who, despite not having yet played a down in the pros, is already being compared to legends such as Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes,
But there could be another incoming rookie quarterback with the potential to benefit the Bears greatly, even if the team has no intention of drafting him.
That young man is Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy’s work at the combine in Indianapolis upped his stock among scouts and pretty much assured that he’d be drafted in the first half of the first round.
His rise in prominence has also benefited the Bears in terms of leverage in possibly making a draft day trade.
How The Chicago Bears Can Use McCarthy To Their Benefit
With Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, and UNC’s Drake Maye guaranteed to go before him, and high-end wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze also expected to go in the early part of the first round, there’s a realistic chance that McCarthy will still be on the board by the time the Bears have their second first-round pick in the ninth slot. And, with quarterback-hungry teams like the Minnesota Vikings (11th), Denver Broncos (12th), and Las Vegas Raiders (13th) right behind them, Chicago will have significant leverage in making a sizable draft day trade to acquire some much-needed draft capital.
As a matter of fact, Alex Shapiro of NBC Sports Chicago has just proposed such a headline-grabbing deal in his own mock draft scenario.
A Bears-Raiders Trade?
In Shapiro’s proposal, the Bears trade their ninth pick in the first round to the Las Vegas Raiders for the Raiders’ first-round pick (no. 13), their third-round pick (no. 77), and their fifth-round pick (no. 148).
It’s also quite possible that Chicago could get more for trading back from nine if the Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders (and maybe another team or two) get into a bidding war with one another for the right to draft McCarthy, likely the last high-end quarterback prospect left on the board.
In Shapiro’s scenario, Chicago would draft Edge Jared Verse from Florida State from their new no. 13 spot, a player who has already been mentioned as a potential first-round target of the front office. So, in essence, the Bears would lose nothing in trading back but would gain two new draft selections.
It is quite possible, however, that McCarthy could be picked before ninth overall and the Chicago Bears would just have to fall back and pick from their slot. Or, possibly, general manager Ryan Poles may have something else up his sleeve. We’ll all find out soon enough.