Draft Insider Reveals What Could Be Great News For Chicago Bears

After the Chicago Bears take their quarterback at #1 overall, the real stress begins. GM Ryan Poles will be at the mercy of seven other teams as they make their picks from #2 through #8. How that unfolds will go a long way in determining what the Bears do at #9. Projections have it going one of four different ways. They take a wide receiver, a pass rusher, an offensive tackle, or trade down. That decision will rest on which prospects are available. It may require some good fortune from the picks ahead of them to get the guy they want.

Here is where it gets fun. Jordan Reid of ESPN has done lots of digging on what could unfold in the top 10. He came away with key details that paint a clear picture of what the Bears could be looking at. The widespread belief is that three quarterbacks will go in the first three picks, and no trades are expected. Arizona could trade down at #4, but the undercurrent is they don't want to risk losing out on a top wide receiver. The first real intrigue starts at #5 with the Los Angeles Chargers.

What we're hearing about the Chargers' draft: Wide receiver is an obvious hole, but it is offensive tackle that has continued to come up when speaking to sources about the Chargers. "The offensive line has always been the hub of the offense for Harbaugh," an AFC director of college scouting said. "He didn't even have highly recruited wideouts at Michigan, and now that thought process is supposed to change?"

That is the first cascade effect.

The next receiver is expected to come off the board at #6 with the New York Giants. From there, it comes down to what happens at #7 with Tennessee and #8 with Atlanta.

What we're hearing about the Titans' draft: One of the most popular mock draft picks this year is the Titans selecting Alt at No. 7, and there's definitely interest there. Tennessee brought the big left tackle in for a pre-draft 30 visit and met with him at the combine, according to team sources. Sometimes it's easy to connect the dots, and this pick feels like a foregone conclusion as long as Alt is still on the board when the Titans pick...

...What we're hearing about the Falcons' draft: Possible targets in Round 1 for the Falcons? "Anyone with a pulse that can rush the passer," per an NFC executive. And Atlanta could have its pick of the defensive litter at No. 8. Dallas Turner (Alabama), Laiatu Latu (UCLA) and Jared Verse (Florida State) are all viewed options. Any one of them would help a pass rush that was last in pass rush win rate last season at 30.9%. -- Reid

The Chicago Bears would be in a premium spot if this happens.

It means two things. One of the top wide receivers will have fallen to #9, meaning Poles is free to give his new quarterback another weapon. It also means the fourth quarterback is still on the board, giving the Bears significant trade leverage with three quarterback-needy teams sitting at #11, #12, and #13. There wouldn't really be a way to go wrong. Either the Bears add one of the best playmakers in the draft or they get a sizable package of picks to move down a few spots while still getting a good player.

The big variable in all of this is the trade market. Experts believe there could be as many as three trades inside the top 10, with teams jockeying for one of the top quarterbacks. If the top three teams stay put, it will be Arizona or Los Angeles who may decide to move. Not doing so benefits the Chicago Bears in multiple ways. Poles figures to have alternate plans for several different outcomes. When they finally go on the clock, he will have a good idea of what he wants to do.