New Veteran QB Rumors Are All Great For Chicago Bears Trade Plans

The Chicago Bears haven't suggested what their plans are for the #1 overall pick. They could still keep it and take the best player on their board. That is something fans should keep in mind. Still, there is a widespread belief that GM Ryan Poles will eventually trade it to a team wanting to come up for a top quarterback. It is too early in the process to determine how that could happen. Part of that stems from teams not yet completing their draft evaluations. The scouting combine and pro days remain ahead in the coming weeks.

Then there is the matter of free agency. Top veteran quarterbacks have often shifted things whenever they change teams. There is no doubt the Bears' market for the #1 pick could be affected if any teams picking in the top 10-15 end up landing one of the bigger names. However, good fortune began early for Chicago when Tom Brady opted for retirement. His exit immediately weakened a market that was already thin.

Now some new information is surfacing on other big names, and if what they're saying is true, then Poles should be a happy man.

The Chicago Bears are inching closer to massive leverage.

Jets are the heavy favorite on Aaron Rodgers.

People keep trying to pump up the Las Vegas Raiders because of the Davante Adams connection. While some experts agree the possibility is there, it's become apparent those inside the league don't feel the same way. It's possible but not likely. Right now, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN has one team circled as the leader in the clubhouse to acquire the future Hall of Famer.

I will walk away from Phoenix more convinced than ever the Jets will aggressively pursue Rodgers. The buzz around the Jets and Rodgers was strong at the Senior Bowl and hasn't subsided this week. The Jets believe they are close to contention. He's target A until proven otherwise. But it's early in what would be a complex process, the price tag remains enormous and the Packers aren't down the road on any potential trade -- after all, Rodgers hasn't decided what he's doing about his future.

Rodgers leaving the division is great. His going to an AFC team picking outside the top 10 is even better for the Bears. It takes one top veteran option away from those teams.

Derek Carr to New Orleans

This is the one name guaranteed to change teams. What Carr does could have a dramatic butterfly effect on the draft process. Currently, the New Orleans Saints are the only team to meet with him. That meeting lasted two days. The general belief is the Saints are willing to make a trade for him. Fowler reveals there is one big hurdle standing in the way, and time is running out.

Everything Dan says is correct … and here's why I still think New Orleans swinging a trade with Las Vegas is not out of the question: The Raiders' asking price is modest -- a third-round pick, according to multiple sources -- and there's a chance the Saints could come around on committing to Carr's $40.4 million guarantee that is due Wednesday.

Las Vegas must trade Carr by February 15th, or they'll owe him that guaranteed money. It is why experts still think it is more likely the QB will get cut. This comes down to whether New Orleans can massage the salary cap enough to fit him in. The Chicago Bears will see another non-top-10 team land a quarterback if they succeed.

Lamar Jackson staying in Baltimore.

The wild card in this process is Jackson. He is technically a free agent, but everybody expects the Ravens to franchise tag him. From there, the question becomes will they continue trying to work out an extension, or will they trade him? The latter is possible, but Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke to an NFL executive about it. The likelier option is that the Ravens use the tag to buy time, trying to work out a new contract both sides can be happy with.

“It is hard to build an offense around Lamar,” another exec said. “You can certainly do it, but a place like the Jets, is that the best fit for what Nate Hackett wants to do? Mike McDaniel probably would do great with Lamar. Maybe a Lamar-for-Tua trade makes sense. Maybe Atlanta would make sense for Lamar with Arthur Smith, but I think Baltimore tags him and holds onto him.”

The Bears' leverage with the #1 pick will be gigantic if things play out like this. The only veterans left worth mentioning are Geno Smith, Daniel Jones, and Jimmy Garoppolo. Both Smith and Jones are expected to stay with their current teams (Seahawks and Giants). That leaves Garoppolo. Not many top 10 teams will be willing to admit defeat by handing the starting job to him. Maybe Las Vegas, but that's about it.