Draft Expert Thinks Chicago Bears Trade Down For Top WR

The Chicago Bears, barring an unexpected late run, will end up with a top five pick in the 2023 draft. Based on their schedule, it may be a top three selection. That puts them in an interesting position. On the one hand, GM Ryan Poles would be able to land one of the best prospects on his entire board. He wants to build this team through the draft. Often the best way to do that is by landing superstar-caliber talents at the top. Then again, the Bears are rebuilding. Building through the draft requires picks. Top three selections can fetch a hefty price among teams searching for potential franchise quarterbacks.

Stockpiling extra picks is never a bad idea in theory. It's not as easy to execute. Poles will need a good reason for such a move if it means passing on top names like Will Anderson or Jalen Carter. Draft expert Jordan Reid of ESPN offered his belief on why the Bears will do it. Sure the extra picks are the biggest selling point. However, there is another reason people haven't talked about. It would give Poles the green light to select the best wide receiver on the board. As things stand, no player at that position is worth a top five pick. However, nobody would blink if one or two went in the 8-12 range.

"I'll also call out the Bears, though targeting a receiver in Round 1 might prove tricky. They are trending toward a top-five pick, and I don't see them taking a WR that early. But they are also still in the early stages of their rebuild, and a trade down the board for more picks -- perhaps with a team looking to land a QB -- would make sense. If Chicago slides back to a better value spot on Day 1, look for it to get Justin Fields another receiver. Darnell Mooney is a reliable option on the outside, but he's more of a complementary player."

The Chicago Bears have to find a true #1 receiver.

That is undeniable. Justin Fields is emerging as a legitimate star with each passing week. However, he's constantly being held back by an underwhelming receiving corps. Trading for Chase Claypool was a step in the right direction, but that isn't enough. They need more. Current projections indicate Quentin Johnston of TCU and Jordan Addison of USC are the top two receivers in this class. Johnston is the freakish 6'4 guy with long arms, excellent body control, and sneaky speed. Addison is more the technician. He's not big, but he's lightning-quick, intelligent, and runs fabulous routes.

Either would be exciting additions to the receiving corps and likely leave several other picks for Poles to tinker with the offensive and defensive lines. It's an interesting idea. Whether it happens remains to be seen. The final 2023 draft order isn't set. There are five weeks left in the season. A lot can happen in that time. Several teams remain within striking distance of the top five. They must be sorted out. If the Chicago Bears want to trade down, they will need a team in the bottom half of the top 10 that needs to move up. So many moving parts. More answers should be available by New Years.