The 2023 NFL Draft is officially three weeks away, and there is still a lot left to be solved before the annual holiday weekend is upon us. For the Chicago Bears, they could be far from done moving around.
Ryan Poles made the move of the offseason by trading the number 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers a month ago, netting a haul of picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore. But, could they move back again? Chances are, Poles will explore the opportunity.
The Washington Commanders are a perfect team to move back with, as the Bears could start by taking their no. 16 pick and still winding up with a great player. But, more importantly to the situation, the Commanders still have no solution at quarterback.
If there’s a quarterback available at no. 9 overall, the Commanders should undoubtedly move up and jump a team like the Tennessee Titans at no. 11 to ensure they get their guy.
The Chicago Bears could wind up getting a haul from the Washington Commanders for their no. 9 pick
In the first of four bombshell trades, the Commanders get the Bears’ pick at no. 9 while sending a slew of picks Chicago’s way.
Draft value charts should be thrown out the window in this instance, because the context is very specific. Washington sees the last of four franchise quarterbacks on the board, and must leap over at least one other team interested in the position.
Remember, the Bears moved up nine spots for Justin Fields and gave up a first rounder. Here, the Commanders are moving up seven spots, and picking from two picks higher than the Bears did when they drafted Fields.
In this first deal, the Bears start by moving back to 16, but they also net a third and seventh rounder this year, plus a second-round pick in 2024, giving Poles plenty of at-bats.
Trade Number 2: The Chicago Bears get a few picks from Washington
In this second deal, the Bears once again make a move solely based around picks. But, things get interesting. Why? Because Chicago not only moves their no. 9 selection, but a third rounder in next year’s draft.
Why would they move an extra pick within the first three rounds? Pretty simple.
Once again, before a Washington fan goes out and grabs the shotgun, one has to realize that the Commanders have been in quarterback purgatory for quite some time. Bears fans should be able to relate to this.
Washington is in a position where they could land a franchise quarterback, and have one shot to do it. Unless they want to wait around until 2024 to play for Caleb Williams, this is a trade they have to make.
For the Bears, it’s a haul. Chicago gets a first rounder next year, plus an extra pick in this year’s sixth round. This is much more of a trade to allow the Bears flexibility in the future as well. Picking seven spots later in this year’s draft isn’t the worst thing in the world. But, in next year’s class when you have a guy like Marvin Harrison Jr. coming out, and Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool both free agents, boasting two first-round picks is going to be a luxury.
Trade Number 3: The Chicago Bears land a franchise edge rusher
It’s time to get spicy. If you thought the Bears netting another first-round pick was spicy, we’re about to go from jalapeño to ghost pepper territory.
The Bears have a need at edge rusher. The Commanders want a franchise quarterback, desperately. See where this is headed? Let’s dive in.
It’s a heck of a price to pay for a franchise quarterback, but the Commanders give up star defensive end Chase Young in a deal to land the no. 9 overall pick. The Bears get Young, along with the 16th pick. Washington, on the other hand, gets the ninth pick, a fifth rounder this year and second-year edge rusher Dominique Robinson.
Injury concerns are certainly there for Young, who has only played a total of 12 games over the past two seasons. That’s the aspect of this trade which is a little scary for the Bears, and what might make Washington feel more inclined to pull the trigger on a deal such as this.
If Young is healthy, he immediately turns this unit into a top-10 defense. With the pieces in place already, the Bears adding a franchise pass rusher would flip it on its head.
Trade Number 4: A huge deal involving two notable wide receivers
Finally, we stay in that same spicy territory and project a trade involving that first-round pick swap, along with a few other picks and two wide receivers.
For the Bears to make a move for another top-end wide receiver, that would mean they’d have to part with one of either Darnell Mooney or Chase Claypool. Because Poles just traded for Claypool last year, it would make more sense for the team to trade Mooney.
The Bears now have Terry McLaurin and D.J. Moore, giving them a top-5 duo in the league, without a doubt. For the Commanders, they’re not left without any offensive weapons for their new franchise quarterback. Washington still has Jahan Dotson, plus the addition of Mooney, giving them a young duo of their own.
A deal like this would probably mean Washington extends Mooney, too, to make this well-worth it.