The Chicago Bears draft plans are likely set. GM Ryan Pace probably doesn’t know who will be available at #8 overall, but he has to have a certain idea. At least he did 24 hours ago. Now that has once again changed courtesy of the latest in a long string of giant trades that continue to reshape the outlay of the draft’s first round.
Per usual it was the Los Angeles Rams doing the dirty work. No team has been remotely as active as them since the off-season began when it comes to the trade market. They already made big moves for cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Yet most felt that GM Les Snead had one more bold decision in mind and was merely awaiting the chance.
The New England Patriots finally opened that door for him. They offered up 24-year old speedy receiver Brandin Cooks in a deal for the Rams’ 23rd overall pick. This is a good deal for both teams. Los Angeles lost a ton of their firepower when receiver Sammy Watkins left in free agency for Kansas City. Meanwhile, the Patriots now have two picks in each of the first two rounds.
Rams receive:
WR Brandin Cooks
4th-round pickPatriots receive:
1st-round pick
6th-round pick— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2018
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The more interesting part though is what they might plan to do with those picks, and how it could impact the Bears.
Chicago Bears draft plans gain loads of flexibility thanks to Patriots
Nobody is entirely sure what the Patriots plan to do with their newfound draft riches. Some expect them to simply reload a depleted roster for another shot at the Super Bowl. Others think they may move to replace Cooks with an upgrade in the form of Odell Beckham Jr. However, there is a third option that could gain steam in the coming month.
Just got a text about the Patriots and interest in Josh Rosen… whew.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) April 3, 2018
Now there’s a twist, and not a surprising one either. Tom Brady turns 41-years old this August. Great as he is, Father Time is undefeated in these situations. His decline is inevitable and the Patriots don’t have a succession plan. They traded that away with Jimmy Garoppolo last year. They have to find somebody else quickly and they have the ammunition to do so. Could the Bears be a potential landing spot at #8? Sure, if the right quarterback is available.
However, even if that’s not the case there is another added benefit. If the Patriots do plan to move higher than #8 for a quarterback, that is also great news.
More QBs going before Bears pick is a good thing
The Patriots aren’t the only team who can move up for a quarterback. The Buffalo Bills have already been in that position since they jumped up to #12 overall. Nearly everybody expects them to find some sort of way into the top five where they can land their franchise guy. This is in addition to the Browns and Jets who are virtual slam dunks to take one as well.
#Bills GM Brandon Beane is trying "like hell" to trade into the top 5 for a QB, per @JasonLaCanfora.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) April 3, 2018
So that’s three quarterbacks at least coming off the board. If the Patriots were to move up as well, that would make it four. Suddenly four of the seven picks slated before the Bears have been used on quarterbacks. This increases the odds of them landing one of the best non-QB talents in the entire draft. That includes Bradley Chubb or Quenton Nelson.
Time will tell whether the Patriots are aiming to make such a move and how the Bears can exploit it.
