Bears GM Ryan Poles Open to Trading No. 1 Pick, but QB-Needy Teams Must Offer Exceptional Deal
Chicago Bears' general manager Ryan Poles has suggested that any team looking to trade for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft will have to pay a hefty sum. Although it remains uncertain when a trade will occur, Poles has made it clear that a QB-needy team must go "above and beyond" to secure the top pick.
"Should we do this before free agency? Or should we wait?" Poles told Peter King. "I don't know. That's what I've communicated to teams\]. I could carry this all the way until we're on the clock the night of the draft. But then there's teams that want some certainty because, �If I need a quarterback bad, should I do that now when some of these guys, like [Derek Carr, are out there?' To me, they've got to go so much more above to do it now.
"I'm not greedy with it. But they're gonna have to go above and beyond to close the door now."
"I'm not greedy with it. But they're gonna have to go above and beyond to close the door now."
In the past, NFL teams have traded up to secure their preferred QBs. For example, the San Francisco 49ers moved to the No. 3 spot in 2021, ensuring the selection of a quarterback. The Bears, with Justin Fields at quarterback, could trade the No. 1 pick to any QB-needy team, potentially trading back twice and gaining additional draft stock.
Poles has a clear strategy for the Bears, aiming to recoup picks while still securing a top-6 player in the 2023 draft. With the possibility of selling the No. 1 overall pick at his own pace, Poles is not in a hurry to make a deal unless the price is right.
"No one's gonna rush me," Poles told King. "I know I can get a '24 one and a '25 one. You're telling me for the next two years I'll have two ones? That's either four really good players, or if we're cruising, we can still trade back."
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