The Chicago Bears have two first-round picks in the upcoming NFL draft. It’s pretty safe to say that they won’t be touching their first one– the overall no. 1 with which they’ll probably be selecting super well-regarded, super-hyped USC blue-chip quarterback prospect Caleb Williams.
But that second pick, at no. 9? That one is practically screaming “Trade me.” That’s especially the case for a Bears front office with only four picks in this draft and, presumably, a strong desire to add draft capital.
Chicago Bears May Be in the Market for Draft Capital
So, it’s not all that improbable that Chicago may deal away their second first-round pick and move back in the draft for an added draft pick or two. One of the teams most often tied to such a trade is the quarterback-needy Las Vegas Raiders, who currently have the no. 13 pick in the first round, but will most likely not be in a position to draft any of the top quarterback prospects.
Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report recently cooked up a scenario where the Raiders make a deal with the Bears for a move up to no. 9 if a top quarterback is still available at that point.
In Tansey’s proposed trade, the Bears would trade their no. 9 pick to Las Vegas for the Raiders’ no. 13 pick, their second-round pick (no. 44), and their fifth-round pick (no. 148).
Raiders “All in” on Quarterback Hunt
The logic is sound here, but, of course, it only makes sense for the Raiders if a high-value quarterback is still on the board by the time the Bears are going to make their second first-round selection. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels will surely be gone by the ninth slot, but then there’s J.J. McCarthy and, maybe, Michael Penix Jr.
It’s thought that the Raiders will be “all in” on McCarthy if/when he’s still available and would be willing to give up a couple of draft picks to get him.
Per Tansey:
“Las Vegas owns a second-round pick that may fascinate the Bears front office in trade negotiations.
That is the trade chip that could push the Raiders over Broncos in the discussions to land the No. 9 pick and potentially a new quarterback.
…Vegas can package a few Day 2 and Day 3 selections, starting with the No. 44 overall pick, to the Bears.
The Bears would love to take a wide out at No. 9, but if the offer is sweet enough, they could take advantage of another team’s situation and improve another part of their roster a few picks later, or hope a top wide out drops to No. 13.”
As is usually the case with draft-day trades, there’ll be a lot of moving pieces in play that will determine whether or not trade decisions are made. But Chicago has a good, valuable asset at no. 9 and, by the time they pick for the second time in the first round, they will have already walked away with the top prize in the draft, Williams. They can afford to wheel and deal a bit with what they have remaining.
