It isn't a secret that the Chicago Bears are open to trading the #1 overall pick. What people are sure of is whether GM Ryan Poles can and who his partner would be. There are plenty of teams in the top 10 seeking quarterback help. It only takes one of them to make that strong offer Poles will be looking for. When thinking about favorites, everybody seems focused on the Indianapolis Colts. Many things like up. They won't dabble in the veteran market. Their GM, Chris Ballard, has personal ties to Poles. Lastly, their division rival Houston is ahead of them at #2.
Everything lines up. Of course, the biggest hurdle is whether the Colts are ready to pay the price necessary to make that jump. Based on what ESPN draft insider Matt Miller has heard, it might not be as steep as many believed.
"Multiple teams in the top 10 could try to move up to No. 1 overall to land their quarterback of choice, and the Bears -- who already have Justin Fields -- certainly should be listening to offers. In this scenario, the Colts take the plunge, sending the Bears the Nos. 4 and 35 picks, a fourth-rounder and a 2024 third-rounder to jump to the top.
I spoke to a few people in the league for context on what might seem like a fair deal, and this fits for both franchises. Indy can get its signal-caller, and Chicago should still have the chance to land a top defender while adding a haul of draft assets, including a valuable second-rounder."
So for giving up the #1 pick, the Bears get an extra 2nd, 4th, and future 3rd.
Nothing about that deal feels worthwhile from their perspective. Similar jumps in years past have yielded much more. The Rams got two future 1sts and a 2nd from Washington in 2012 when they swapped #2 for #6. The Bears gave up two 3rds and a 4th to go from #3 to #2 in 2017. Hell, even Indianapolis got three 2nd rounders when the Jets came up from #6 to #3 for Sam Darnold a year later. Poles would have a hard time justifying the decision to give up the most valuable pick in the entire draft for a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
The Chicago Bears have all the leverage needed to get a big return.
Everybody knows Houston will take a quarterback at #2. The dash to get him will be fierce if one QB separates himself from the rest in the next month during the interview process. Rumors are two teams have already called the Bears about a possible trade. It won't be long before others get involved. The veteran quarterback market still needs sorting out. Once Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, and Daniel Jones find out where they'll play in 2023, the focus will instantly shift to the draft.
That is when the Chicago Bears will hold all the cards. If that is the offer Indianapolis makes, then don't be surprised if Poles makes a deal elsewhere. He will be shooting for "value." That was the buzzword used. Translation? If you want the pick to nab your future franchise QB, then be prepared to pay for it. Otherwise, you can potentially watch him go to another team.
