The NBA and NFL are two different businesses in two different sports. They conduct operations quite differently from each other. Yet from time to time there is an overlap that sneaks in on both sides. For the NFL, it’s when trades are involved. One thing about the NBA their trades don’t always involve just two teams. There are times when a third team gets involved. Maybe even a fourth. That gets one thinking. Is there an NBA-style way the Chicago Bears could land Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson?
Those two quarterbacks appear to be the biggest hopes this franchise has of changing their fortunes in 2021 and beyond. Both superstars capable of elevating an offense around them. GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy know the stakes. If the Bears don’t win this season, they’re likely fired. What gives them the best odds to win? A good quarterback. So if Watson and Wilson are at all possible, they need to find a way.
Here are a couple of creative NBA-style trades that would make sense for all teams involved.
Deshaun Watson
New York Jets receive:
- Roquan Smith
- 2nd round pick (CHI)
Chicago Bears receive:
- QB Deshaun Watson
Houston Texans receive:
- 20th pick (CHI)
- 25th pick (NYJ)
- 1st in 2022 (CHI)
- 1st in 2023 (CHI)
Remember where Robert Saleh came from in San Francisco. His defense is at its best when it has a stud linebacker in the middle like Fred Warner. Adding Roquan Smith, who should’ve been a Pro Bowler this past season and is only 23 is exactly what he’s looking for. That along with a 2nd round pick should be enough to pry the Jets’ 25th overall pick away.
Now the Bears are suddenly positioned to offer what no other team can or probably would. Four 1st round picks to the Texans. This means they would have two 1st round picks in each of the next three drafts. A perfect situation for them to rapidly rebuild their roster. It’s a heavy cost for Chicago losing four high picks and their best young defensive player. However, they now have a 25-year old Pro Bowl quarterback to build around.
Russell Wilson
Arizona Cardinals receive:
- CB Jaylon Johnson
- 2nd round pick (CHI)
- 3rd in 2022 (CHI)
Chicago Bears receive:
- QB Russell Wilson
Seattle Seahawks receive:
- 16th pick (ARI)
- 20th pick (CHI)
- 1st in 2022 (CHI)
- RB David Montgomery
Age is catching up to the Cardinals at cornerback really fast. Patrick Peterson turns 31 this year and Dre Kirkpatrick turns 32. They need to find some young blood at the position. Johnson is perfect. He turns 22 this year and was probably the best rookie cornerback last season. Chicago sweetens the deal with a pair of Day 2 picks in order to secure that 16th overall selection.
After that, Seattle gets what they’re looking for in three 1st round picks. Two of them in the 2021 draft, which is probably ideal. On top of that, Pete Carroll gets a proven running back still on his rookie contract in Montgomery. Somebody he can use as a true feature back in that run-first offense that they’ve been missing since Marshawn Lynch left. Losing two good players is tough for the Bears, but they get a superstar QB in return and also managed to avoid giving up a 1st round pick in 2023.
Conclusion:
No matter how one looks at it, getting Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson is going to be expensive for the Bears. Really expensive. It comes down to whether they can find creative ways to mitigate the damage while also enticing the Texans and Seahawks into making the trades. All the players mentioned above are really good talents. Under normal circumstances, they’d be in Chicago for years to come. However, their value becomes small when compared with the chance to land a franchise QB.