What to do, what to do? The Chicago Bears may have completely purged their offensive coaching staff in an effort to rebuild an inconsistent and sometimes awful offense, but they continue to have some big decisions ahead of them.
Chief among those decisions is what to do at quarterback. Starter Justin Fields is headed into his fourth year as a pro and, despite some improvements in performance and consistency, there are still plenty of questions regarding his long-term viability as a high-end NFL starter. And with these questions swirling around Fields, Chicago is also in possession of a no. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft– a draft that just happens to have blue chip quarterback prospects Caleb Williams and Drake Maye at the top of the list.
So, what will the Bears decide when it comes to their immediate future at quarterback and their no. 1 pick? A lot of smart football people are cooking up all sorts of scenarios.
Chicago Bears Draft Trade Proposals
In some of those scenarios, Chicago tries to repeat the success they had in last year’s draft, when they again had the no. 1 overall pick and opted to trade it away for a haul of picks and an established, veteran star. In that deal, the Bears traded away their no. 1 pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Carolina wide receiver DJ Moore, the Panthers’ no. 9 pick in the draft, the Panthers’ No. 61 pick, plus a 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick. Not only did the Bears benefit greatly from bringing Moore aboard, but their no. 1 overall pick this year is a direct result of that deal last year.
Well, if they’re looking to repeat that success prior to this draft, there are definite paths to doing so– and it may be just one or two draft spots below them this year.
In a mock draft trade proposed by Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, Chicago would make a deal with the team with the no. 2 overall pick, the Washington Commanders,
In this proposal, the Commanders send their no. 2 pick, their no. 41 pick (essentially returning the pick Chicago sent to Washington in exchange for Montez Sweat at the trade deadline), and a 2025 first-rounder to the Bears for the no. 1 overall pick (and a shot at drafting Caleb Williams as their new quarterback.
Chicago, having made the decision to keep Fields as their top QB, would then draft wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with their new no. 1 pick, one spot after the Commanders. Harrison, many would argue, is the overall best NFL-ready talent in the draft, anyway, and adding him to the pass-catching crew would give Fields another weapon and “go to” receiver.
With their own no. 9 first round pick, Chicago could add an impact defensive player or a quality offensive lineman to further aid Fields.
Other Draft Trade Proposals
It should also be noted that in other draft trade proposals, the Bears would slip further back in the draft, but add established pros with the deal.
In a theorized trade with the Raiders, Las Vegas would get the Bears’ no. 1 pick in exchange for their 13th overall all selection, a 2024 second-rounder, and their first-rounder in 2025. They’d also get elite-level defensive end Maxx Crosby in the deal.
In another proposal for a deal with the Atlanta Falcons, the Falcons would acquire the Bears no. 1 pick in exchange for their no. 8 pick, a 2024 second round pick, and their no. 1 picks in both 2025 and 2026. The Bears would also get veteran defensive end Grady Jarrett.
In any of those scenarios, a mighty haul awaits Chicago.
All of this, of course, is assuming the Bears will be staying with Justin Fields, which certainly looks less likely following the recent mass firing of offensive coaching staff.
But we shall see soon enough.
