Ryan Poles has already shown he's not afraid to take calculated risks in the 1st round of the draft. That includes making blockbuster trades. His deal to give the #1 pick to Carolina in 2023 helped set the stage for the Chicago Bears to build their foundation for the future. Darnell Wright, Caleb Williams, and Tyrique Stevenson are all results of that trade. Another 2nd round pick is incoming this year. Many wonder what Poles might do this year with the 10th pick. Plenty of names are being mentioned.
Former New York Jets and Miami Dolphins general manager Mike Tannenbaum believes it will go in a different direction. Based on how he sees the board falling, Poles will once again swing a blockbuster trade, again with another team coming up for their future quarterback.
Mock trade: Steelers take advantage of sliding QB
Steelers get: No. 10 and a fifth-rounder (No. 148)
Bears get: No. 21, a third-rounder (No. 83), a fourth-rounder (No. 123) and next year's first-rounderOnly one quarterback has come off the board? If I'm running the Steelers, I'm making a call to the Bears and seeing if I can move up to the No. 10 spot. This is the AFC North, after all -- I need a quarterback for the long haul when I'm facing the likes of Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.
Tannenbaum believes there is a good chance Colorado quarterback Shadeur Sanders might slide out of the top five. The Browns and Giants will go with top defensive players, while none of the other teams between #4 and #9 have pressing quarterback needs. Pittsburgh has nothing at this stage aside from Mason Rudolph. They're waiting on Aaron Rodgers, but even that would be a temporary solution.
Ryan Poles must believe he can still land a good player at #21.
Many experts claim this draft class isn't nearly as divided between top talent and everybody else as others. This year, the 10th pick is much closer to the 50th pick. If so, it makes sense that Chicago would look to move back if given the chance. The obvious question is who they could get were they to make the move. Based on recent mock drafts from experts like Mel Kiper and Daniel Jeremiah, here are some names who could be available in that scenario.
- Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
- Josh Simmons (OT, Ohio State)
- Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
- James Pearce (EDGE, Tennessee)
- Kelvin Banks (OT, Texas)
- Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
- Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
Each comes with various question marks, as is often the case. All have the upside to become excellent NFL players. If Ryan Poles believes he can land a true difference-maker at #21 while stockpiling more picks for later, it is the smart thing to do. He's had deals with Pittsburgh before, so there's already a line of communication. If the Steelers are itching to go get their guy, this makes sense.
