Bears general manager Ryan Poles made it clear that Chicago is leaning toward trading back from the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, which surely prompted plenty of conversations at the NFL Scouting Combine.
There are anywhere from eight to 12 teams who could be in the market for a new quarterback in 2023. With quarterbacks Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson elevating their stock through combine meetings and on-field drills, it only benefits the Bears, who should see no shortage of offers for the No. 1 pick.
One of those quarterback-needy teams is the Carolina Panthers, who are expected to be “aggressive” when it comes to trading up to land a franchise quarterback, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
If you’re looking for a team in the top 10 of the draft that could trade up to take a quarterback, keep an eye on the Panthers. They pick at No. 9, right behind the Atlanta Falcons and Raiders, both of whom could be thinking QB there. And many people I spoke with in Indy expect the Panthers to be aggressive in their efforts to move up and secure their franchise QB.
With the Panthers sitting at No. 9 — and with other teams ahead of them also thinking quarterback — it’s obvious they’d need to make a move up in the draft in order to land Young, Stroud, Levis or Richardson.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently outlined what a trade package would look like for the Bears if they traded down eight spots with Carolina. It would cost the Panthers three first-round picks (2023, 2024, 2025), as well as an additional second-rounder in 2023.
While trading outside of the top four would cost Chicago a chance at a top defensive prospect like Will Anderson Jr. or Jalen Carter, there’s no doubt the value would be greater in terms of the additional first rounders.
