The Chicago Bears traded the first overall pick in the NFL draft to the Carolina for a haul ahead of the start of free agency. And while Chicago is sitting comfortably at ninth overall, general manager Ryan Poles might not be done trading back in the first round.
Last week, EJ Snyder of the Bootleg Football Podcast said the Pittsburgh Steelers have had conversations with the Bears about trading for the No. 9 pick.
NBC Sports’ Peter King had this to say about it in his Monday column:
Best rumor of the week: Steelers trading up from 17 to nine if Carter’s there. There could not be a more perfect coach for Carter than Mike Tomlin.
We’ve seen that Poles is no stranger to trading back and acquiring additional draft capital on top of still getting a top prospect. If Chicago were to trade back to 17th overall, they could land a top offensive tackle — like Broderick Jones or Darnell Wright — and get another pick in the process.
If Pittsburgh were to move up eight spots to No. 9, it would cost them their No. 17 pick and another high-value selection. Perhaps the 32nd overall pick that originally belonged to the Bears before they traded it to the Steelers for wide receiver Chase Claypool last November.
While Chicago would be missing out on Carter — if everything went according to plan — having that No. 32 pick would put them in a position to land another top defensive tackle in this loaded class. Perhaps someone like Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore.
There have been rumors that the Bears are “open for business” when it comes to the ninth pick, and Pittsburgh might not be the only team looking to move up.
