Draft Insider Reveals Chicago Bears Have Trade Bait In Mind For #9 Pick

The Chicago Bears are one of the big mysteries as the NFL draft draws near. Nobody is entirely sure what GM Ryan Poles will do with the team's second 1st round pick at #9 overall. Rumors have been flying for weeks. Some suggest he might try moving up for Marvin Harrison Jr. Others believe he will stay put and take the best offensive player on his board, be it a wide receiver or offensive tackle. However, the most popular theory is Poles hopes to find a trade partner so the Bears can move down and collect more picks. They only have four in this draft, which would be a record franchise low.

It just makes the most sense. The problem is finding a trade partner interested in moving up. For that to happen, the Bears will need bait. Most expect the top quarterbacks to be gone within the first six picks. This would mean Poles needs another player he feels would draw interest. According to prominent draft insider Tony Pauline of Sportskeedia, there is a feeling inside Halas Hall that there is significant interest in Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. With the Jets a threat to take him at #10, Chicago would make the perfect landing spot to get in front of them.

"The lovefest over tight end Brock Bowers continues, as a majority of teams have the Georgia underclassman graded as the fifth or sixth player on their board.

The expectations are that Bowers will be selected by either the Chicago Bears with the ninth selection or the New York Jets at pick 10. This, of course, assumes he makes it that far.

Sources tell me there's a real possibility a team trades from the middle part of Round 1 in front of the Jets to secure Bowers. Speculatively, I'd say look at the Titans or Falcons, or even the Bears themselves, being the target of the team that wants to move up for Bowers."

The Chicago Bears likely have three teams eager for a shot at Bowers.

The Indianapolis Colts are first on the list at #15. Reports indicate they're eager to get Anthony Richardson more weapons, and they have no clear option at tight end. Bowers has the traits GM Chris Ballard would covet. Next is the Cincinnati Bengals at #18. Over the past few years, their efforts to upgrade at tight end haven't gone well. Drew Sample never developed. The best option on the roster is veteran Mike Gesicki. Putting Bowers in that offense with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins would be wild. Last but not least is the Miami Dolphins. They are looking for somebody who can take advantage of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Jonnu Smith isn't that guy.

There could always be a sleeper team involved, too. Bowers is a special talent. Every draft expert has indicated as much. The comparisons to George Kittle aren't an accident. It isn't hard to understand why the Chicago Bears would see him as quality trade bait. They could even justify taking him themselves if no deal materializes. A combination of him and Cole Kmet would give opposing defenses fits. If nothing else, this is proof that Poles has multiple plans in place.