It isn’t a secret at this point. The Chicago Bears are deep into the process of trading the #1 overall pick. They have a strong market for it and plenty of leverage coming out of the scouting combine. GM Ryan Poles sounds confident he will get a deal done, and it will be at a price that could change the entire landscape of the organization. We’re talking multiple 1st round picks over the next two years. This organization hasn’t experienced something like that since the days of Jim Finks.
The only thing left unknown is which team will pay the price tag. Most agree the two hottest contenders are the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers. It makes sense. Both saw multiple failures in the veteran market. Both have impatient owners desperate for a solution at the position. It isn’t hard to imagine their GMs being pressured to make a move for a QB they want. However, it sounds like another team has entered the fray. Poles told Peter King of NBC Sports that a team from further down than expected had been calling him.
According to the Football & Other F Words podcast, we may know who it is now.
Now this by itself is nothing to get excited about. Podcasts and radio hosts make statements like this a lot. They’re not always accurate. Where it gets interesting is when Mike Herndon, who covers the Titans as a beat writer, confirms the rumors that they are working the phones, trying to move up. They apparently have eyes for Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
This isn’t the first time the Chicago Bears were mentioned.
Those with a sharp memory will remember back in early February that Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog reported two teams outside the top five had already floated offers to Chicago. When people speculated it was probably Las Vegas at #7 or Carolina at #9, he swiftly corrected them. It was Tennessee. Then, just for good measure, he dropped another strong hint a few weeks later, stating the Titans were looking to make a big move.
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It isn’t a surprise Tennessee is doing this. They’re stuck in the AFC, which is suddenly stacked with great quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Josh Allen. Now Trevor Lawrence is ascending as well, and he’s in the Titans’ division. Worse still, two other division rivals, the Texans and Colts, sit in the top four, well-positioned to get their own quarterbacks. If Tennessee isn’t careful, they could be left in the dust entirely, forced to navigate an impossible gauntlet to reach the Super Bowl.
They can’t let that stand. Jumping both Houston and Indy to #1 would be the ultimate power move. They don’t have the draft ammunition to pull it off. However, they do have something the Chicago Bears would want. That is Jeffery Simmons. He is one of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in the NFL. He’s only 26 and would perfectly fit their three-technique position. Packaging him with a 1st in 2024 and some additional picks might be what Poles was hoping for.
If the Bears even have a shot at Simmons they should front load a resigning. As he sits now, he is valuable. Add a #1 pick next year and a #2 or 3 this year and that would be a massive win for the Bears. I doubt it will happen if the Titans get Garoppolo. Unless they want a rookie QB to learn from him for a year or two. But would Garoppolo want that situation? In any case, I would love the Bears to trade back to 9 or 11 or whatever in that range. Get an O Lineman… Read more »
The Ravens’ situation with Lamar Jackson (non-exclusive franchise tag) should provide Justin Fields’ fanboys with a reality check.
Jackson, a former league MVP is the superior passer — and yet, simply, not the kind of QB that a receiver (who wants to be paid as a WR#1) wants to play with.
Justin Jefferson will always prefer a passer like Kirk Cousins. Tyreek Hill prefers Tua — to Patrick Mahomes! Stefon Diggs wants Josh Allen to stop running; and throw him the damn ball.
NFL QBs all get their money. WRs just want an opportunity to “wet their beaks.”
Ghost Tomahawk, 34… What don’t you get about the fact that Fields is staying here. He’s everything you could want any got a high ceiling the guys gonna smooth out the rough edges and be fine. Bryce Young is too short, and will prove to be a quarterback with less of a ceiling fan Justin Fields, and he’s not even 6 foot tall how many passes are gonna be bad down at the line that are thrown by Young? Another thing, the Bears should be able to get near . 500 this year 8-9 or 9-8 is not unreasonable this… Read more »
The Bears are not going to be competitive for at least 2 more years. That means everyone in year 2 of their deal will need to be resigned.
Deal Fields and draft Young. Take all the picks and dump it in defense and plug holes via smart free agency signings on offense. This year’s draft is loaded with mid round stuff after the top 10.
I honestly doubt that a team’s beat writer would not only leak that they were trying to move up, but also leak exactly who that QB that they are targeting is. He did say at the beginning that it’s lying season. He should have given the wink wink after that. If there was any truth the the fact they are trying to move up for Stroud then it only increases the price for them because other teams that want him will provide offers as well.