All eyes are on the Bears in regard to the 2023 NFL draft. Chicago owns the No. 1 pick and is reported to be leaning toward trading it. Bears general manager Ryan Poles directly addressed the storyline when Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer asked him what the chances are that they deal away the pick.
“Strong,” Poles said at the recent NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “Over 50%.”
All things considered, it’s still early in the process. The draft is still more than seven weeks away.
“It’s really early right now, so it would take a lot to close the door,” Poles said. “And then the other thing is just adding to the premium is if a player, a veteran player, was in the mix. To me, then [trading the pick early] allows us to be a little bit more precise in free agency. So that would be the other factor, too.”
Bears coach Matt Eberflus told Breer that Chicago has engaged in trade talks with three different teams. It’s not surprising, considering the prize is likely a franchise quarterback in Bryce Young. Chicago appears to already have its signal-caller of the future in Justin Fields, leading them to shop the top pick.
The draft isn’t until April 27, leaving plenty of time for teams to make their pitch to Poles and the Bears to obtain the coveted pick.
