The Chicago Bears are officially on the clock as they hold the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft (with some help from the Houston Texans).
Given the Bears aren’t in need of a quarterback (as they’ve found their guy in Justin Fields), they’re in a prime position to trade down from first overall and land quite a draft haul in the process.
But it’s been awhile since the team in possession of the No. 1 pick traded down in the draft. The last time it happened was the the Los Angeles Rams traded up from No. 15 with the Tennessee Titans to select quarterback Jared Goff in 2016.
The Titans received the No. 15 pick from the Rams along with two second-round picks and a third-round pick in 2016, as well as first- and third-round picks for 2017. Tennessee sent 2016 fourth- and sixth-round picks to Los Angeles.
So what compensation could the Bears receive for the top pick? It certainly depends on where a team is trading up from — is it inside the top five? Still a top 10 pick? Outside the top 10? That’ll certainly impact the price.
When looking at some of the quarterback-needy teams that could be calling Chicago (for a chance to select Bryce Young, CJ Stroud or Will Levis), there’s a chance the Bears could trade back from No. 1 and still land Will Anderson or Jalen Carter inside the top five.
You know general manager Ryan Poles is going to be fielding plenty of phone calls from other GMs about moving up to get the top selection (and quarterback of their choice). Strap in folks. It’s going to be a fun offseason.
