Report: Chicago Bears Trade No. 1 Pick To Denver Broncos In Wild Proposal

The Chicago Bears find a treasure trove laid at their feet with this year’s overall no. 1 pick in the NFL draft. The decision, though, is in how they want to collect on those riches.

If the team keeps its pick, they’ll have first dibs on grabbing USC’s blue chip quarterback prospect Caleb Williams, who many see as a potential generational talent.

If they decide to trade away their top pick, they could collect a bounty of talent– both via draft picks and current high-end players– from any number of teams hungry and desperate to step in and grab Williams for their own franchises.

Broncos In The Hunt For No. 1?

One of the teams reportedly kicking the tires on a possible move up the draft via trade is the Denver Broncos.

According to media accounts, Broncos head coach Sean Payton has made it known that his goal is to bring in one of the top quarterbacks available in this draft and that the team will make every effort to move up in the draft to do so. Currently in possession of the no. 12 pick, Denver will most definitely have to trade their way to the front of the draft line and may even be willing to part with top cornerback Patrick Surtain to secure a deal.

“How Desperate is Denver for a QB?” NFL draft insider Tony Pauline recently wrote. “In a relationship that went south very quickly, Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos are looking for a brand new starting quarterback after their short romance with Russell Wilson never met expectations.

“Last week in Frisco, Texas a rumor circulating the players’ hotel at the Hyatt Regency had Broncos head coach Sean Payton looking for his new quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft…Payton wants one of the top passers- Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels…I was able to confirm the Broncos are interested in moving up for their quarterback of the future…

“A blockbuster deal from the Denver Broncos would surely include cornerback Patrick Surtain. I’m told while the franchise doesn’t want to trade Surtain, they would consider moving the corner only as a last result to secure one of the top passers.”

If the Bears can be nudged into giving away their top draft pick for a second straight year, Surtain would almost surely have to be part of the deal.

What Would The Bears Get For No. 1 Pick?

And what would this potential Bears-Broncos deal look like?

Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report envisions the Bears getting the following from the Broncos in return for their no. 1 pick this year: Denver’s no. 12 first round pick this year, a third-round pick this year, a 2025 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2025 third-round pick.

Gagnon doesn’t bring Surtain into the mix, but somehow throwing him into the deal would make things extremely enticing for the Bears. Adding one of the very best cornerbacks in the league to an already formidable defense would make the team an even greater force to be reckoned with. And bringing in several top draft picks around him would provide added depth to a team that has enjoyed tremendous draft capital over the last couple years.

Decisions, Decisions

So, the Bears front office has to make the big decision in the coming days and weeks. Keep their no. 1 pick or collect on the bounty it demands. Last year, they also had the overall no. 1 pick in the draft and they traded it away. Things went well for them in that deal with the Carolina Panthers, bringing in wide receiver DJ Moore, some good talent via draft picks, and, as things would play out, the top draft pick against this year.

Everyone will see soon enough what the Bears decide. Whatever the case, though, Chicago finds itself in a good spot.