The common term among sports fans is “Vegas knows.” Whenever oddsmakers release the numbers on certain bets, it feels like they know something others don’t. Maybe a particular team is projected to make the playoffs others haven’t thought much about. Or perhaps a player is suddenly the favorite to win MVP when he was a long shot mere days or weeks ago. That is why it’s interesting to see what those people thought about the Chicago Bears. Everybody knows they hold ultimate power over the course of the 2023 draft through the #1 overall pick.
What nobody knows is what they’ll do with it. GM Ryan Poles unsurprisingly kept his answers on the subject vague. He made it seems like he’s just as likely to use the pick as trade it. People have varying opinions on this. Some think he’ll stay put and take a top defender. Others think he’ll sell it to the highest bidder. There are even a few who believe he will select a quarterback to replace Justin Fields. Oddsmakers decided to join the fun with an update on who they think will be the team making the #1 pick when the dust finally settles.
Chicago remains the favorite, but two other teams aren’t that far behind them.
The Chicago Bears have plenty of suitors.
It isn’t a surprise the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts are such betting favorites. The two teams are division rivals. Both need quarterbacks. Houston sits at #2 overall. Indianapolis is at #4. The last thing the Colts would want is to see a QB they covet land with a rival, thus cementing the reality of having to play him twice a year. That is why they’re the favorite to move up in a deal with Chicago for the #1 spot. Wisely, the Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers aren’t too far out of the running either.
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Vegas made it clear they’re moving on from Derek Carr this off-season. The Sam Darnold experiment has run its course for Carolina. Both teams may try dabbling in free agency or the trade market. If they fail, then they instantly become players in the sweepstakes for #1 overall. That is why the Chicago Bears have so much leverage. It will be fascinating to see how this plays out. There will likely be clarity towards the end of March once free agency has settled down. We should know who the big players will be by then.
We’re going to hear a lot of guesses on what the Bears will do with the #1 draft pick for the next three months. All the Monday morning quarterbacks will have their opinions. Actually, it’s a lot of fun to speculate and have your own thoughts on what Ryan Poles should do or will do. I am confident he will do the right thing and the Bears will add the talent they need to compete in 2023. If as some suggest, he could trade twice, first for #2 with Houston and then #4 with Indy, it would really give them… Read more »
In my opinion, best case scenario is that Young, Stroud and Levis are all viewed as top 7 QB prospects but with a clear pecking order. In an ideal security for the Bears, they trade with Houston for the #2 pick and also get a haul, then trade with the Colts for the #4 pick and get another haul. Finally trade with the Raiders and get one more haul and still grab either Murphy, Johnson or Skoronski.
Val has got it all together….make two trades…first with Houston, then with Indy…get a boatload of GOOD picks, and then pick one of the two top DL prospects with Indys 4th pick….
This post is for those who advocate for a trade with Houston for their 1 and 12….It will NEVER Happen! No team is insane enough or desperate enough to give up those picks to move up 1 spot. The best the Bears can hope for in a trade with Houston is for #2 and their 2nd round pick, the latter essentially being the same as the last pick of the first round due to Miami having to forfeit their first round pick. Plus they could probably get a couple of extra mid round picks as gravy. I’d take it and… Read more »
Trade down to the Jets get garret wilson a 1st a 2nd and 3rd this year and a 2nd next year.