Chicago Bears Suddenly Have A Window To Top Of The 2023 Draft

The Chicago Bears lost their eighth game in a row on Saturday, falling 35-13 to the Buffalo Bills. It was painfully obvious how limited the team was with so many injured players. To say nothing of how lacking in talent they already were. Several rookies played well in the game, but this is just not a good football team right now. The loss pushes them to 3-12, maintaining control of the #2 overall pick. That would've been the primary story if something unexpected hadn't happened down in Nashville.

There the Houston Texans pulled off a stunning upset of their division rival Tennessee Titans to claim their second win of the year. Suddenly they are 2-12-1, narrowing the gap between themselves and the Bears for control of the #1 overall pick. If Chicago loses their final two games, they will finish 3-14. If Houston wins one of their last two games, they will finish 3-13-1. That tie from earlier in the season would be enough to hand the Bears control of the top pick in the draft.

The Texans play their remaining two games against Jacksonville and Indianapolis. The Jaguars should beat them, but the two teams played a tight game in their first meeting. As for the Colts, they've lost seven of their last eight games with an offense that can't score. It isn't crazy to think Houston can steal one of them.

The Chicago Bears would have loads of flexibility in that scenario.

Controlling the #1 pick means they would have their choice of literally any prospect in the entire class. If there is one player they believe will be a future superstar, they're free to take him. Maybe it's Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson or Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. However, the obvious intrigue comes from the trade value that pick holds. It is essentially a golden ticket for any team needing a quarterback to come up and get the one they want. GM Ryan Poles could hold the spot for ransom, knowing the QB-needy Texans would likely be sitting right there at #2.

The allure of adding multiple extra picks, including future 1st rounders, is always appealing. It's no secret the Chicago Bears have many holes on their roster to fill. More picks would help them do so. That said, moving down runs the risk of losing out on what could end up being some generational players. Poles would need a significant offer to make that deal. Either that, or he could try moving down only a few spots, hoping to stay in the top five so he can still potentially land such a player.

Either way, these next two weeks should be fascinating for the Bears.