One of the more persistent rumors surrounding the Chicago Bears ahead of the 2026 NFL draft is their desire to move down from the 25th pick. It’s suggested they aren’t wild about their options at that spot, be it on the defensive or offensive line. In situations like that, the sensible thing to do is to move down. The problem is that this draft class is considered weak, so lots of teams are angling to move down. That creates a shortage of teams that might want to move up, making it more difficult for the Bears to find potential suitors.
However, recent buzz from ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggests they may have a better market than we realize. Given where the Bears sit at #25, it has often become a sweet spot for teams wishing to move back into the 1st round for a quarterback. Two such teams are angling to do just that for Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
The two teams that seem to be most interested in Simpson are the Jets and Cardinals. The Jets hold the No. 16 pick in the middle of Round 1 and the No. 33 pick at the top of Round 2. The Cardinals hold No. 34 in Round 2, right behind the Jets. If Arizona wants to leapfrog New York, it could not only land Simpson but also get the fifth-year option on his rookie contract by taking him in Round 1…
…There have been seven instances of a team moving up for a QB in the first round at the 25th pick or later in the common draft era (since 1967), including the Giants with Jaxson Dart last year, per ESPN’s ace researcher Evan Kaplan. The Packers also traded up to 26th in 2020 to draft Jordan Love, the Ravens traded up to 32nd in 2018 to draft Lamar Jackson, the Broncos traded up to 26th in 2016 to draft Paxton Lynch, the Vikings traded up to 32nd in 2014 to draft Teddy Bridgewater, the Broncos traded up to 25th in 2010 to draft Tim Tebow and Washington traded up to 25th in 2005 to draft Jason Campbell.
It doesn’t stop there. Some recent buzz suggests the Houston Texans, who pick 28th overall, are desperate to get more offensive line help. The problem is Buffalo (#26) and San Francisco (#27) are likely seeking the same. That makes the Bears at #25 an attractive spot.
The Chicago Bears will decide what an acceptable offer is.
Here’s a reality few people understand. There are almost always a few calls about trading down every year. The primary issue for general manager Ryan Poles is whether the offers being made are worth the cost of the draft position. Most of the time, it isn’t. However, this draft feels unique. There isn’t much difference in talent level between someone taken 25th overall and someone taken 45th. It is all about personal preference from team to team. This means the Bears might be willing to take a less substantial offer to move down, provided it’s not insulting.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
A good example of this was 2013. Widely considered one of the weakest drafts of the decade, the Dallas Cowboys chose to swing a deal with the San Francisco 49ers. In exchange for the 18th pick, they received the 31st pick and a 3rd round pick. In normal circumstances, that is an incredibly low return for dropping 13 spots. However, such was the opinion of that draft. As long as the Bears aren’t demanding anything ludicrous, they should be able to find a taker. It all hinges on whether there is a player out there they don’t want to miss.
We already know Poles isn’t afraid of this scenario.
This is the same man who had the guts to give away the #1 overall pick in 2023, knowing he’d miss out on several prominent draft prospects. He knew the Chicago Bears needed more picks to continue building up the roster and felt he’d still be able to land a quality player further down the board. He was correct, drafting Darnell Wright 10th overall. There is no reason Poles would be more queasy about the idea of moving down from #25. All he needs is a dance partner.
If the Cleveland Browns pass on a quarterback at #24, the phone should start ringing from other teams wanting to come up for Simpson, provided he doesn’t go earlier. Barring that, the Bears can also dangle some of the top guards or wide receivers likely to still be available. It isn’t a terrible spot to be in. Much depends on how the board falls and how far the Bears are willing to move back. By the sound of things, they will have some interesting options to possibly choose from.
