Now just two weeks away from the 2023 NFL Draft, we’re going to have no shortage of rumors and possibilities for the Chicago Bears, especially considering general manager Ryan Poles has not shied away from making big moves.
Ever since the team traded back from the first overall pick, there has been plenty of speculation as to whether or not the Bears are going to trade back again.
The easy answer to that question is answered once we know if there is a top-four quarterback available at that no. 9 selection. If so, consider that pick as good as traded. If all four quarterbacks are gone at that point, then things become murky.
However, one potential trade partner has been rumored to want to move up with the Bears in order to draft a non-quarterback at number 9 overall: The Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Chicago Bears could take full advantage of a needy Pittsburgh Steelers team on Draft day
Windy City Gridiron’s EJ Snyder went live on his podcast recently, The Bootleg Football Podcast, and stated he has heard the Steelers have been conversation about a possible trade involving no. 9.
If the Steelers moved up, they’d be looking at a top cornerback or offensive tackle. This is an interesting thought, because the Bears would also love to draft one of the top offensive tackles in the class as well. But, we’ll see how all of this unfolds. For now, let’s try and figure out some sensible trade packages between the two teams.
Should Pittsburgh make an offer like one of the following, what should the Bears say?
Trade Number 1: The Chicago Bears get a haul of picks from Pittsburgh
When looking at trade value charts, the following trade would add up to be a little bit of an overpay, but overall around a 55/45 split in terms of fairness. And, that’s pretty much how it’s going to end up being for any team that wants to trade up for a player they like. Rarely are trades going to end up being a 50/50 split in terms of value.
In this deal, the Bears and Steelers swap their no. 9 and no. 17 picks in the first round. But, the Bears also get a third rounder this year, coming in at no. 80.
This is a deal where Ryan Poles is building for an overall future for the organization, though, as he’ll get the most valuable pick coming next year in the second round. Poles also snags a fifth rounder next year, but gives up a seventh as somewhat of a filler.
At this point, the Bears have two picks in each of the second, third, fourth and fifth rounds. Talk about swings of the bat, here; that’s exactly what a general manager wants to have at his disposal: multiple chances in multiple rounds.
Trade Number 2: The Chicago Bears send a pick and a player to Pittsburgh
The second deal is a bit different, as the Bears would try and help the Steelers fortify both of their rumored needs. Pittsburgh wants to move up for an offensive lineman or a cornerback, but what if the Bears could help them with both?
In this deal, Chicago starts by swapping first-round picks like any deal would. But, beyond the no. 9 and no. 17 picks, the Bears are dealing with three others and a player, here.
Chicago has been rumored to move on from Teven Jenkins for a while now, for whatever unknown reason. The easiest explanation is that Jenkins wasn’t Poles’ guy, so maybe he’d like to find his own starter instead, namely at right tackle. Jenkins is a former second-round pick, though, and still has plenty of football ahead of him.
The Steelers could try plugging him in at right tackle, all while drafting a top cornerback with that ninth pick, thus plugging both holes.
Meanwhile, the Bears get a second-round pick this year, coming at no. 49 overall, plus a seventh rounder this year and a fourth-round pick next year.
Trade Number 3: The Chicago Bears go all-in on the 2023 draft class
Finally, the Bears could try yet another trade involving nothing but picks. However, unlike Trade Number 1, this deal involves only picks in 2023. The Bears would deal their no. 9 selection, of course, along with a fifth rounder this year. In exchange, Pittsburgh gives up three selections.
The Bears would get no. 17, but they’d also get another pick in the second round, giving Chicago three picks in that round alone. That selection comes in at no. 49 overall. Additionally, the Bears would get a fourth-round pick this year, coming in at no. 120.
After this deal, the Bears would have a whopping seven picks in the top 120 selections. That’s an astounding number, and one that could result in a good amount of starters for this team right away. Poles could work wonders with those seven picks alone, but surely he would take every opportunity to find even more value, as he usually does.
Going back to the three picks in the second round, you never know whether or not Poles could use a couple of those to move back up into the first round and snag another top-tier player. The possibilities here are truly endless.