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BEARS TRADE: Bears have trade down in NFL Draft, stockpile top 100…
Bears Advised to Trade Down in NFL Draft, Stockpile Top-100 Picks.
The Chicago Bears traded out of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and the outcome was spectacular. Considering the context this time around, the team could decide to do something similar with the 9th pick in 2024.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently released a first-round guide for all 32 NFL teams, which included his recommendations as to whether each squad should trade up, trade back or stand fast. As nearly all draft analysts have suggested in recent weeks, Barnwell believes the Bears should hold strong at No. 1 and select USC quarterback Caleb Williams. The more intriguing decision for Chicago arrives eight picks later.
After seeing what the [Houston] Texans did in Round 1 with quarterback C.J. Stroud and pass-rusher Will Anderson last year, it might be tempting for the Bears to make a dramatic swoop by landing a quarterback at No. 1 before moving up to land a second potential superstar in the top five. The idea of Williams throwing to [Marvin] Harrison, Keenan Allen and DJ Moore does sound pretty incredible, although it would come at the expense of several other needs on Chicago’s roster.
While the Bears landed extra draft capital by trading down with the [Carolina] Panthers a year ago, they’ve also sacrificed second-round picks in consecutive years by dealing for Chase Claypool and Montez Sweat. … With needs at offensive tackle and defensive lineman and more depth required throughout the roster, this would be a good spot to consider trading down in the hopes of adding more top-100 picks around their rookie quarterback.
Bears Could Land Star WR Prospect Like Rome Odunze Without Trading 9th Pick in NFL Draft
Holding onto the 9th pick might create just as exciting of a buzz in Chicago as dealing up for Harrison would, and could net a player of similar talent at the same position.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze of the Washington Huskies, or potentially even Malik Nabers of LSU, could fall to No. 9 depending on how great an interest exists with teams lower in the draft order to move up for a quarterback. The Minnesota Vikings are candidates to trade up from No. 11, while other teams like the Denver Broncos (No. 12) and Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) have enough need at the position to potentially enter the mix.
Who those teams trade with, if any trades occur, will also make a difference in which players remain for Chicago at No. 9. The Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 and the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5 are teams that could draft a receiver if they stay put, as are the New York Giants at No. 6.
Bears’ Best-Case Scenario Involves Trading Back, Drafting Player They Liked With 9th Pick Anyway
The ideal scenario for the Bears — assuming a player available at No. 9 isn’t a top-five prospect on their board, or the like — is trading back off the pick and still landing a blue chip target they would have been happy to spend the 9th pick on in the first place.