One thing Chicago Bears fans know about GM Ryan Pace? He loves to wheel and deal come NFL draft time. Most instances it's an attempt to jump up the board for a player he covets. Three times in five drafts he's moved up with his first pick. Could he do the same yet again in 2020? Of course. However, there is a general feeling that this won't be the case. Instead, Pace will play the more practical route and see if he can move down to acquire more picks.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune dropped this little nugget during his latest mock draft.
"The Bears are expected to seek a trade down with at least one of their second-round picks to add depth to their class."
It's easy to understand why.
After the 2nd round, the Bears have no picks until midway through the 5th round. That is not ideal. Moving down from either #43 or #50 would help alleviate that issue. Some were concerned about the hectic switch to a virtual draft process might dissuade trading. Biggs though delivered this quote from Eagles GM Howie Roseman to assuage those fears.
“I don’t think there’s going to be a lack of communication because we are communicating on the phone during the draft anyway,” Roseman said. “We all have each other’s phone numbers and we all have multiple phone lines. There will be the same level of communication because that doesn’t change. That’s one thing that is not going to change.”
Chicago Bears must find a dancing partner
In order to pull off a trade down, the Bears obviously can't do it alone. They need another team to want to move up the board for a player they covet. That's how deals get made. The good news is there is no shortage of teams picking after them in the 2nd who love to wheel and deal. The Rams, Eagles, Ravens, and Seahawks are such examples. Miami is another to watch given their glut of extra picks this year as well.
It all comes down to how the board falls. Trades don't happen unless the right players are available. Word is this is going to be the most unique draft seen in years. Partly because players who would normally go higher won't because teams haven't been able to gather the necessary data on them due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Perhaps there will be players who deserved 1st round grades that fall into the 2nd. At that point moving up to get them will feel worth the risk.
This would work in the Bears' favor.
