Ian Rapoport Had Interesting Update On Bears' Market For #1 Pick

The Chicago Bears more than likely want to trade the #1 overall pick. They have plenty of reasons to. Their roster is in rebuild mode, and they need multiple high draft choices to construct it properly. Many believe the pick is uniquely valuable this year because of a solid quarterback group and several QB-needy teams hovering in the top 10. Everybody knows the Houston Texans are taking one at the #2 spot. So if a team wants their preferred guy, they need to call Chicago. Recent news has helped shape how this scenario may unfold. Ian Rapoport had some interesting comments down at the Senior Bowl.

Based on his understanding, the Carolina Panthers will be one team to watch in the coming weeks. They hired their new head coach Frank Reich. Next on the agenda is obvious. Find a quarterback. Sam Darnold isn't the guy. They have the 9th overall pick, so they are within striking distance of #1 overall if they wish to take the swing. However, Rapoport doesn't seem to think that happens. It is more likely, at least at this juncture, that the Panthers will look to the veteran market for an answer.

Ian Rapoport is well-informed, so this is interesting.

It is possible Carolina thinks two things. They have a strong enough roster to compete for the NFC South title. Despite a horrid start to the year, they proved that by almost unseating Tom Brady and the Buccaneers this past season. It is reasonable to think they can make a playoff run if they find a good enough veteran option. Also, it's reasonable to assume they feel the jump from #9 to #1 is too far and would cost too much. They don't think starting over is necessary, provided they can land the right guy.

That is where the challenge is. Brady has retired, so that takes one of the biggest veteran pieces off the market. The three best options left for Carolina would be Derek Carr, Lamar Jackson, and Aaron Rodgers. Jackson is likely to get franchise tagged by Baltimore. Green Bay made it clear they won't trade Rodgers inside the NFC. That pretty much leaves Carr as the only plausible option. The problem is the Panthers will have massive competition for him from teams like the Jets, Titans, Commanders, and possibly the 49ers.

If he goes elsewhere, that will leave the Panthers with options like Daniel Jones or Jimmy Garoppolo. Jones is also likely to stay put in New York. So the pickings could be slim if Carr says no. At that point, the team may have no choice but to call the Bears. It will be interesting to see if Ian Rapoport hears something different in March.