THE BRONCOS COULD BE A POTENTIAL TRADE PARTNER FOR THE BEARS' FIRST-ROUND PICK
For the second consecutive year, the Chicago Bears find themselves entering the offseason with the coveted No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Once again, they are likely to receive considerable interest from teams eager to trade up and secure a quarterback with that pick.
At the forefront of teams eyeing a potential trade to move up for a quarterback is the Denver Broncos. According to Sporskeeda's Troy Pauline, the Broncos are willing to explore a blockbuster deal to move up in the draft. While they prefer to retain cornerback Patrick Surtain, they would consider including him as part of the deal to secure one of the top quarterback prospects.
While this development leans more toward the Broncos' desire to trade up rather than the Bears' intention to trade down, it is a positive sign that teams are interested in trading with the Bears to secure a quarterback. This could potentially give the Bears valuable trade leverage should they decide to retain the first overall pick and continue with Justin Fields in 2024. Alternatively, it provides insight into the desperation of teams seeking to trade up, which could work to the Bears' advantage.
While it may be premature to delve into potential trade scenarios, it is not too early to begin considering potential trade partners among the other 31 NFL teams. While it seems unlikely that the Bears would entertain trading the top pick for the second consecutive year, signs have been pointing toward their interest in selecting a quarterback since October. General Manager Ryan Poles' shift from staunchly supporting Justin Fields in January 2023 to being "open to anything" in January 2024 suggests that the Bears are indeed considering a quarterback with the first pick.
However, this does not rule out the possibility of the Bears and Broncos becoming trade partners in the upcoming draft. The Bears also possess the ninth overall pick, and while top quarterback prospects like Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are likely to be off the board, other quarterback options could be available.
For example, if Michigan's J.J. McCarthy or LSU's Jayden Daniels is still available when the Bears pick ninth, they could explore potential trade scenarios:
1. Contact the Las Vegas Raiders, who might have a quarterback need, and inform them of the Broncos' interest in trading up for a quarterback. Leveraging division rivals against each other could maximize trade value.
2. Reach out to the Minnesota Vikings, who hold the 11th pick, to gauge their interest in moving up to select a future quarterback. Considering that the Vikings may retain Kirk Cousins and plan for the long term, this scenario is plausible, even between division rivals.
3. Explore the possibility of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who select 20th, wanting to trade up for a quarterback. While trading back from ninth to 20th might be a stretch, it's worth considering various trade possibilities.
In conclusion, the focus should not solely be on the idea of the Bears trading the first pick to the Broncos. Instead, it's encouraging to know that GM Ryan Poles may have multiple teams eager to strike a deal. While a trade for the top pick may not be imminent, it opens the door for potential discussions with other teams. The offseason is just beginning, and once the Super Bowl concludes, activity will intensify.
