The speculation around what the Chicago Bears will do with the #1 overall pick was the talk of the scouting combine. That isn’t a surprise. Everybody knows the team is more likely to trade it than not. It would mark only the third time since 2001 that the highest pick in the draft was dealt. GM Ryan Poles doesn’t seem afraid of the idea. He knows his team is rebuilding, and he needs more assets to help push it along. The obvious challenge is finding a deal he can be happy with.
What we haven’t known is what Poles might be looking for in terms of compensation. Much of that depends on how far the Bears drop. If it’s within the top five with Houston or Indianapolis, they’re likely looking at multiple Day 2 selections and maybe a future 1st. However, the Bears GM might be aiming higher. Robert Mays of The Athletic appeared on Hoge & Jahns to discuss Chicago’s situation. It was here he revealed a relevant bit of information that could have massive ramifications if true.
“Little birdies? The price that I heard from outside the top five is your one this year, a two this year, a 1st in 2024, and a 1st in 2025.”
The Chicago Bears aren’t asking for anything egregious.
History says a move outside the top five will demand a price tag along those lines. Remember, the San Francisco 49ers gave up two future 1st round picks to move from #12 to #3 in 2021. That was the exact price tag the Washington Redskins paid in 2012 to go from #6 to #2 for Robert Griffin III. It’s not like Poles is pulling this out of nowhere. He knows the level of compensation he should get for dropping that far. It’s the #1 pick in the draft. That means any team acquiring it will be able to take the exact player they want.
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If the Chicago Bears do end up landing a package along those lines, the sheer potential will be astronomical. It will mean Poles has two 1st round picks in each of the next two drafts. The sheer flexibility that creates is undeniable. If the GM does his evaluations right, he could lay the foundation of something special in the near future. This comes down to finding the team willing to pay. Nobody knows who it might be. There are plenty of possibilities. Poles appears ready to wait it out.
