The Chicago Bears are in a unique position for the 2024 NFL draft. They not only hold the #1 overall pick but also the #9 pick. If they were to stay put at those spots, it would mark the first time since 1979 they selected two players in the top 10. There is one pressing concern with that idea. Chicago only has four picks total in the entire draft. That isn’t a lot. The normal amount for every year is seven, meaning they’re three below the average. It doesn’t give a lot of room for error. This is why many believe GM Ryan Poles might choose to trade down from #9, hoping to secure some extra picks.
As is always the case in these situations, it’s one thing to want to trade down. It’s another thing to be able to. Poles said it takes another dance partner to work out a deal. If the Bears are going to swing a trade, they need a team to want to move up. They may not know who that could be until they’re on the clock next month. However, insider Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus offered a hint at one team to watch. He did this through a projected trade that could happen.
It is one that makes sense from many avenues.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS TRADE UP TO NO. 9 WITH THE CHICAGO BEARS FOR T OLU FASHANU
Trade terms: Saints receive Pick Nos. 9 and 75; Bears receive Pick Nos. 14, 45 and 168
A tackle already made sense for the Saints with question marks on the left side, as 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning has not panned out thus far and veterans James Hurst and 2023 starter Andrus Peat — who is still unsigned — are not long-term starting options. Now, with news that stalwart right tackle Ryan Ramczyk has unfortunately not recovered as well as the team had hoped from knee surgery, tackle is by far the biggest need for this roster headed into 2024.
The Saints get ahead of the New York Jets at No. 10, who could still be in the market for a top tackle prospect despite adding Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses this offseason — both are signed only through 2024 — and the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13.
That outcome would be ideal for the Chicago Bears.
While they do give up their 3rd round selection, it pushes them up into the middle of the 2nd round while also adding a 5th rounder. That means five picks total. Dropping down to 14th is a good spot because the general consensus is there are 15-16 true 1st round prospects in this class. By settling there, they still have high odds of landing one of those players, be it a wide receiver, pass rusher, or tackle. They can also use that 2nd rounder to move down a bit on Day 2, gaining further capital.
The Saints are no strangers to moving up in the 1st round. They moved from 18th to 10th in 2022 and from 27th to 14th in 2018. If there is a player they covet in this class, and there are reasons to believe there will be, then their GM, Mickey Loomis, won’t hesitate to swing a deal. Their window is short with Derek Carr at quarterback. Ensuring his protection is an absolute must. Poles has done business with them in the past, working out a trade in the 2023 draft that resulted in Roschon Johnson and Terell Smith.
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We won’t know what offers Ryan Poles gets until the Bears are on the clock. It seems to me most of the teams right behind the Bears are looking for the same players they are. It all depends on what’s offered to them and if they will be able to get the top talent they need.
They could maybe trade down once more and get Brian Tomas Jr. I believe him to be every bit the WR Odunzae is, and you could get him 10 picks later , plus acquiring more draft capital. I would definitely pull the trigger on this one.
The trade is an intriguing possibility. However, one serious flaw in the article is apparent to me: ” … the general consensus is that there are 15-16 true 1st round prospects in this draft.” That’s just not true. The first round of this draft is much stronger than most. There’s 3 very highly regarded QB prospects and a second tier that would be late first rounders in most drafts. The top 3 WR would each be the top WR in a normal draft year. There’s OTs as well, and while the DL isn’t stacked with top 10 prospects, there’s plenty… Read more »
It truly depends on who falls to the Bears at nine. If four QB’s go in the top eight, trading back would not be wise. Take the blue chip talent when it stares you in the face, Poles has already won the off-season and the draft as soon as he selects Caleb Williams, keep adding premium talent after that. I’ve heard numerous times that there is talent early in this draft and that it’s a four round draft because of the amount of players that stayed in school and did not declare this year. The Bears shouldn’t trade their draft… Read more »
This is assuming that Poles/CW do not desire or prefer LT Fashanu. I hope they do.