Try as some people might, it’s become hard to deny the noise. The Chicago Bears went into this off-season with tremendous leverage regarding their #1 overall pick. The 2023 draft class has a solid array of quarterback options. Several teams in the top 10 need one. Best of all, the Houston Texans hold the #2 pick, and everybody knows they will take a quarterback. That means if another team doesn’t want to risk letting the QB they prefer land in Texas, they need to call Ryan Poles.
By the sound of things, the market is heating up. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirmed as much during an update at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. He didn’t mince words. The Bears are open to moving the pick, and it sounds like plenty of teams are ready and willing to make him an offer.
It no longer feels like a question of if the Bears will trade the pick, but more like when. Poles hinted at the possibility it could happen before free agency on March 15th if certain scenarios happen. Otherwise, smart money says the end of March, when most college pro days conclude, is when to expect a move.
Chicago Bears are waiting for the right offer.
Poles likely has a number in his head regarding compensation. He won’t give up the most valuable pick in the draft without a package he believes will help him rebuild this roster. A safe assumption is he’s looking for at least a future 1st round pick in 2024. That would create immense flexibility. He’ll need some cooperation from the quarterbacks. A strong performance from some of them at the scouting combine might be the final push a team needs to pull the trigger. The keyword here is patience.
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There is no reason to rush the process. As the draft draws closer, teams will start to feel the pressure. A popular saying in sports is deadlines spur action. Once the realization hits that the draft is nearing and teams don’t have a quarterback, they will call the Chicago Bears will more serious offers. Poles must determine which is best for his team. Maximum return is desired, but he must balance that against how far he’s willing to drop. That is why his own player evaluations are crucial.
