Any scenario where CHI keeps #1 pick?
 

I just don't see any. Bears need a lot of help on D and O line. Weapons are okay but Fields can't keep running it the way he does and expect to have a long career.

Who do you think trades up and grabs the pick?

It's not about 2023.

It's not about 2024.

It's about the next 10 years. And you probably need a better QB for the job.

Fields has gotten the short end of the stick in Chicago, but teams know that. You can probably trade him for a couple nice picks and build around the QB you know gives you the best chance.

I'd trade him, and use to pick to take a QB.

Are you thinking Fields to say Baltimore then?

I don't think Stroud is an obviously safer/better bet than Fields.

Different, more conventional, yes. But any more likely to be a championship caliber passer? Eh...probably not. And you'd take a solid beating on a Fields deal; I think you'd be lucky to get a 2 this year and a 3 next for him given that 2 years of his rookie contract are already used up.

You'd get more than that by simply moving from the 1 spot to the 2 (presuming you can convince the Texans that you have a deal to move someone PAST them for Stroud).

I don't see an obvious 1.1 quarterback in this draft.

I think Indy/Seattle (#4 & #5) is an interesting dynamic in regards to two teams who are likely in the market for a quarterback, that could potentially trade up. Would still give Chicago the ability to draft an elite player. It would go against what Seattle has done historically in regards to how they approach the draft, but since they drafted so well last season and have the extra picks, maybe they’d splurge this year and take their #1 QB on their draft board.. With Chicago wasting a high 2nd on the Claypool trade, I think they’ll be motivated to trade down.

As DJ said though, which QB you are drafting is a big question. Gotta really fall in love with one of these QB’s to justify the cost.

1. Chicago Bears (3-14)

2. Houston Texans (3-13-1)

3. Arizona Cardinals (4-13)

4. Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1)

5. Seattle Seahawks, via the Denver Broncos (5-12)

6. Detroit Lions, via the Los Angeles Rams (5-12)

7. Las Vegas Raiders (6-11)

8. Atlanta Falcons (7-10)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-10)

10. Philadelphia Eagles, via the New Orleans Saints (7-10)

11. Tennessee Titans (7-10)

12. Houston Texas, via the Cleveland Browns (7-10)

13. New York Jets (7-10)

14. New England Patriots (8-9)

15. Green Bay Packers (8-9)

16. Washington Commanders (8-8-1)

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)

18. Detroit Lions (9-8)

For sure no QB Eagles, Steelers

Probably no QB Bears, Cardinals, Patriots, Lions

Everyone else on that list needs a QB. Only two for sure do not.

Hopefully that pushes a lot of quality down to us.

If they think Fields is their guy then they still have every reason in the world to stay at #1 and grab Will Anderson. It's literally a no-brainer.

Yeah, definitely.

I'm interested to see which QB goes first. There are some rumblings starting from evaluators that Stroud is elevating...

They'd still be wise to leverage that pick.

Try to coax a 2 out of the Texans to move down a spot. Work the phones to convince them that Seattle is looking to get ahead of them to grab Stroud.

But yes, Will Anderson should be their guy.

I would say definitely Will Anderson but they have basically a blank roster and need everything. They need to bolster out the roster.

Why is taking the best non-QB not an option?

Of course they should see what's offered but they don't have to trade down unless the offer is huge.

I'd trade Fields and draft a QB that can throw the football

I think Jalen Carter vs Will Anderson is a tough decision. Jalen Carter is one helluva athlete.

Fields is a Lamar Jackson type QB that need a Lamar Jackson style of offense. If they keep him they’ve got to invest in a pass rusher.

They also need a LT badly bc as much as Braxton Jones has done, he isn’t a good LT. Probably need to move him to RT

And good ****ing God Ryan Poles has not started off well. Trading a 1st rd pick for Chase Claypool? With that QB? ****ing yikes

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Asked if there is a QB at the top of the draft they want, would he give up heaven and earth to trade up and get him?<br><br>Ballard: &quot;Yes. I’d do whatever it takes.&quot;</p>&mdash; Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) <a href="https://twitter.com/zkeefer/status/1612842837531365376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More than likely. I think he's got a chance to be the top guy but he's going to take a couple of seasons to fully mature as a passer. I thought he should stay in school for another year.

I haven't watched the QBs a ton at the top to nitpick every variable but I think Levis would be my guy. He's got an NFL build, can make the throws, and if you clean up his reads I think he can be pretty good. He reminds me a bit of Josh Allen coming out.

Young would scare me a bit. I think he could be most pro-ready but he's easily the type of player you wonder about being the next Tua or RGIII. He's just built so small.

I'd easily take Hendon Hooker as well. He's more of the guy I think is much like Levis. He's got an NFL body and can make all of the throws. For him, I think he takes a bit longer getting the ball out at times.

I'd fire Ballard if I was the Colts.

That franchise is a mess.

Yeah, I think they could try but it's not something that usually happens. The price isn't historically steep for the team moving up, especially if you're going for a QB, but it's only happened 4 times in the NFL and not in the past 20 years.

In the end, you need to be in the top 5 and it's going to cost a 2nd or the equivalent thereof. That can also be the reason teams tend to stay at #1 and just get their guy. You're not going to get a king's ransom to move off of it.

2001: ATL to SD for 2001 1st #5, 2001 3rd #67, 2002 2nd, WR Tim Dwight
1997: LAR to NYJ for 1997 1st #6, 1997 3rd #67, 1997 4th #102, 1997 7th #201
1995: CIN to CAR for 1995 1st #5, 1995 2nd #38
1990: IND to ATL for 1990 5th #121, 1991 1st, OT Chris Hinton, WR Andre Rison and receive back 1990 4th #83 and conditional pick not exercised.

It should be, but it is most certainly not. Ever.

Even here, where we have Mahomes, Reid doesn't have 10 years left, that puts him at 74, I don't think he lasts that long.

Veach? Hell there was an argument or two made that Veach should be fired last offseason. No chance he should be looking past more than 3 or 4 years. Dorsey got shitcanned after turning us around after the Scott Franchise Killer Pioli Days.

Who else?

A decade ago you could say Belicheat, but he's over 70 now and won't be around a decade. He sure as shit isn't going to do anything that will set him up for more than 2 years at most.

Newsome in Balt? Maybe.

The crew in Pitt? They're probably the closest.

Nobody else has any slack more than 1-3 years. Especially if shit gets heavy.

We all like to think that we should have a 10 year horizon, but everybody is looking out for #1. And why shouldn't they? Every single franchise has shown that nobody is working out their contract. You either get extended or fired.

The smart money is try to find something that you can do to win with Fields, or convince ownership they need someone new BEFORE you lose them and they want to shitcan your ass.

That's not what we'd like to think but that's the reality of the situation.

There are some advanced stats, as well as the eye test, that say the o line isn't close to as bad as Fields has made them look. Bears fans want to blame the offensive line, because they like Fields. Also no wants to blame there young QB that they spent a lot of resources on to get.

Chase Claypool is a good WR. Can't blame the guy for wanting to try and surround his young QB with talent. Can't just not get your guy weapons cuz he runs. Turn it into a Baltimore situation.

He traded a 2nd, not a 1st. Claypool is probably worth a 2nd round pick. To top it off, the Bears were 3-5 at the time of the trade and in dire need of a weapon.

The fact that it ended up being the top pick of the 2nd round and a de facto 1st because of the forfeited pick by Miami in round 1 and the fact that the Bears couldn't win another game the remainder of the season doesn't make Poles a complete idiot.