Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: Let’s get wild with trades

To kick things off, the Bears are going to make a jump up in the first round. Ryan Pace is going to leave no room for questions of whether or not he did everything he could do to take this franchise to the next level.

Of course, in order to do so, this team will need a franchise quarterback — and that’s exactly the reason they decide to trade up with the Carolina Panthers. Chicago moves up a total of 12 spots from 20 all the way up to pick no. 8.

In order to get there, the Bears send the Panthers their 20th overall selection accompanied by next year’s first rounder. In addition, Chicago gives up a fourth-round pick next year and a sixth rounder in this year’s draft (pick no. 208).

All of this is to land North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, who is one of the more polarizing prospects in this draft. He has the prototypical size you’d like in an NFL quarterback, but of course he also gives you a dual-threat from under center.

Lance’s second pro day saw him make some laser-sharp throws and really solidify himself as one of the top-tier quarterbacks this year. He needed that second pro day badly after only playing in one game this past season, but his 2019 campaign did all the talking he needed. That year, Lance accounted for 42 total touchdowns and didn’t throw a single pick.

The Bears now have a rookie in the waiting with Lance, who will sit behind Andy Dalton — but only for so long. The moment Dalton struggles, Lance will step in and replace him, and the Bears’ offense could soar to new heights.