Insider's Surprising Comments On What Chicago Bears Would Do With #1 Pick

Everything is coming into focus. The Chicago Bears won't start Justin Fields on Sunday. It is the Nathan Peterman show. Everything points to a loss against the division rival Minnesota Vikings. That means the Bears would lock up the #2 pick in the 2023 draft. The greater intrigue comes from the finale in Indianapolis between the Colts and Texans. If Houston pulls off a victory, the Bears will leapfrog them to secure the #1 overall pick. This has sparked speculation about what GM Ryan Poles might do if that happened.

The prevailing belief among many fans is he'll seek to trade the pick. It is an easy idea to embrace. Chicago already has a quarterback in Justin Fields. That means they can auction the spot off to the highest bidder seeking their own QB. This would secure multiple future high draft choices for the Bears as they look to continue rebuilding. If handled correctly, it would give Poles the resources necessary to construct a contender. The obvious question is how possible this is. Albert Breer of the MMQB weighed in on the subject, raising one key point against it.

"Well, if a quarterback gets hot over the next few months in workouts—and that can happen—then the value of the No. 1 pick would multiply, whether it’s Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young, Kentucky’s Will Levis, Florida’s Anthony Richardson or anyone else. If those guys are all close to one another and none of them separate as particularly special, then the tension for teams to trade up probably won’t be there."

That is something one must factor in.

The urgency to move up diminishes if teams don't see much of a difference in value between Young, Stroud, and Levis. Why move up for Young at #1 when the odds are favorable Levis, who you feel is of similar value, could be had without paying extra. Breer took it a step further, believing Stroud would make it out of the first two picks. A clear indication he believes Chicago won't end up moving.

"Based on what we saw Saturday, I think a team with a high pick will get an answer they like to the first question, answer yes to the second question and bet Stroud will continue to improve. Right now, the Seahawks are sitting there with the third pick. I’d bet he’ll be there for them—if they want him."

This idea isn't hard to fathom for the Chicago Bears.

Yes, trading down could potentially land them several high picks, including further 1st rounders. At the same time, none of those picks would be guaranteed hits. Poles would understand the odds of him landing another #1 pick in the future are exceedingly rare. It might be better to take the best player on his board and be happy. Current projections suggest both Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson and Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter have generational talent. If developed properly, they could change the entire landscape of a franchise. Moving down would mean Poles has to pass on both of them.

That might not be something he is prepared to do. His job is to acquire players he feels gives the Chicago Bears the best chance to produce a championship. There is no better spot in a draft to land such players than the #1 pick. Much of this could hinge on what the Seattle Seahawks do. If they re-sign Geno Smith to a multi-year deal, the odds of them drafting a QB drop significantly. If they don't, that means both they and Houston are in line to select one. This would increase the urgency from teams like Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Carolina to move up. The Chicago Bears won't give away the pick for cheap. It will take a substantial offer.

Otherwise, expect Poles to take the best defender on his board and move forward.