The 2021 NFL Draft is now less than two days away, with the rumors involving quarterback prospects and potential trades swirling. Any potential trade along with whom the San Francisco 49ers may draft with the third overall selection will have a massive impact on whom the Chicago Bears select with their first-round draft choice. Depending on what takes place on Thursday night, Draft night luck may be on the Chicago Bears' side when it comes to getting a quarterback.

Several Potential Trades Of Veteran quarterbacks Could Help The Bears

Although the Bears currently hold the 20th overall draft pick, They would need to trade up or hope for one of the five quarterback prospects to fall out of the top 10. With Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Mac Jones projected to be the first three players selected in Thursday's Draft, Chicago would have a chance to draft either quarterback Justin Fields or Trey Lance. The problem is that there are potentially five other teams that may look to draft a quarterback before the Bears.

The Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and Washington Football Team are all teams that are positioned to draft before the Bears in the first round. In addition, all five teams have been rumored to have a quarterback need. The one thing that aids the Bears' chances of drafting a quarterback is that all the teams selecting before them have other avenues to solve their quarterback need. When looking at the Lions, it is questionable why the team may draft a quarterback when they have a proven quarterback already in Jared Goff. Goff is only 26 years old and has been named to consecutive Pro Bowls in 2017 and 2018. Furthermore, Detroit has more significant offensive needs as they lost both their starting wide receivers in Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones to free agency. Of the five teams looking at quarterbacks, the Lions have the situation of the group. Similar to Detroit, Philadelphia also has a young quarterback in place already with second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts played well towards the end of the 2021 season, which led to the Eagles trading Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Wentz to the Colts. Although Philadelphia is in a rebuild, they may draft another quarterback as an insurance policy if Hurts doesn't take the next step. Like the Lions, the Eagles could use a wide receiver more than a quarterback as the team has been without a number one receiver for quite some time.

New England and Denver could both trade for veteran quarterbacks that could make a massive difference for each team in 2021. With San Francisco drafting a quarterback third overall, their current starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could be available via trade and could be moved before the end of the weekend. New England could be a potential landing spot as Garoppolo was with the Patriots for three and a half seasons. He would reunite with Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who both viewed the former Eastern Illinois quarterback as the potential heir apparent to Tom Brady when they drafted him.

Denver could also trade for a veteran quarterback and target Carolina Panthers' quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Despite Denver head coach Vic Fangio overseeing a terrific defense, the team has lost many games over the last two seasons due to poor quarterback play. The Broncos have lost nine games by seven points or less the previous two years. Heading into a critical third year, Fangio might not want to gamble his job on a rookie quarterback compared to trading for the proven Bridgewater. Trading for former Vikings quarterback would give the Broncos the proven quarterback they have needed since Peyton Manning's retirement six seasons ago.

If These Scenarios Play Out, The Bears Could Get Their Quarterback

If the potential trade scenarios happen with the Patriots and Broncos while the Eagles and Lions address their more prominent needs, it would be a best-case scenario for the Bears. Chicago could find themselves only competing with the Washington Football Team for the remaining two quarterback prospects. These scenarios unfolding would ensure at least one quarterback being available, but it may not be the quarterback the Bears may want. Furthermore, it could either cost the Bears less to trade up to draft a quarterback with fewer competitors needing a quarterback also. It could also save Chicago trading up as one of the quarterbacks could fall to the team at their current spot at 20. The NFL Draft is notorious for having situations every few years in which players fall, and teams can draft a player they initially thought they would have no chance at selecting. Such instances include Laremy Tunsil in 2016, Brady Quinn in 2007, Aaron Rodgers in 2005, and Randy Moss in 1998. All have been situations in which players expected to be drafted higher fell to an unexpected team. There is no guarantee that either Lance or Fields could fall to the Bears at 20, but previous drafts prove that it could be possible.

If Chicago can select a quarterback in the first round, whether by trading up or a quarterback prospect falling to them, it would be a significant win for the franchise. The entire offseason for the Bears has been dedicated to solving their quarterback issue. Although Chicago has found a short-term solution in Andy Dalton at quarterback, they now need a long-term solution and appear to be poised to solve that need on Thursday.