When the Bears left the NFL Scouting Combine, the question wasn’t whether they would trade the first pick.
The buzz had transformed into which team it would be and how much they would get for it.
Friday, everyone got their answers.
That team became the Panthers, and holy moly, did the Bears get an absolute haul for No. 1.
The Bears’ trade with the Panthers won’t be official until the new league year begins Wednesday. But here’s the deal: The Panthers receive the first pick to select their top quarterback in the NFL Draft; the Bears get Nos. 9 and 61 this year, a first-round pick in 2024, a second-rounder in 2025 and receiver D.J. Moore.
The addition of Moore is the proverbial icing on the cake for Chicago.
The Athletic’s Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain talk through the blockbuster trade, one that has the potential to change the Bears for years to come.
Jahn’s: Fish, it’s almost unbelievable. It’s not that the Bears traded the first pick. We all knew that would happen eventually. It’s the haul they obtained. In one move, general manager Ryan Poles got Justin Fields, a No. 1 receiver and more draft capital to build around him. Poles deserves credit for how he played his hand this week and especially at the combine last week when other GMs did their best to throw up smokescreens. Teams always feel compelled to move up for quarterbacks. Poles seemingly never underestimated that desire. After all, he was part of a Chiefs front office that did the same for Patrick Mahomes in 2017.
Fishbain: We knew the Panthers could be that team. They fit the bill as a franchise ready to be aggressive, and Poles took advantage. Let’s start with Moore. The draft capital is great, but who knows what comes of that? We do know Moore is the Bears’ best receiver right now and immediately makes Fields and the offense better. He’ll be 26 at the start of next season, too. This isn’t a one-year guy. I mocked Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to the Bears in our latest mock draft because I felt they needed a dynamic receiver and they couldn’t get a veteran. Enter Moore.
Jahn’s: The Bears receivers now look like a good group: Moore, Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, Velus Jones Jr. and Equanimeous St. Brown. Adding a No. 1 receiver like Moore — who has three 1,000-yard receiving seasons in five years — enhances everything. Fields must be ecstatic. It’s instant help. But it’s also a long-term move for Poles and the Bears. Moore is under contract for this season and the next two. The Bears can now turn their full attention to addressing their offensive and defensive lines in free agency and the draft.
Fishbain: Before we get to the trenches, here’s a thought exercise: Is Poles done at wide receiver? I know I said Moore is the guy and they don’t need to consider Jaxon Smith-Njigba or one of the other top receiver prospects, but consider this: What does the future hold for Mooney and Claypool? Will both be re-signed? I’m not ready to close the door on still adding a playmaker. But there are bigger priorities.
Jahn’s: It’s because there are still big holes on the roster. Signing right tackle Mike McGlinchey, linebacker Bobby Okereke and three-technique defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones in free agency would fill three of them immediately, much like Moore’s arrival. The Bears still have the salary-cap space to make all three a reality. I don’t think Moore changes the Bears’ plan of attack for free agency. I’d be willing to bet the Bears included adding a receiver of Moore’s caliber in their plans and scenarios for this offseason, especially with the No. 1 pick at their disposal.
Fishbain: Those moves next week will help dictate what to watch for in Rounds 1 and 2 of the draft. Poles has flexibility. He can move up from No. 9 if he wants. He’s probably not getting Will Anderson Jr., but if enough quarterbacks go early, he can pick his spot to get his guy, whether that’s someone like Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson, Iowa defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness or a corner, like Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. We talked so often last season about how the Bears lacked blue-chip players. Poles has plenty of swings he can take to add prospects who have the traits to help build this thing into his ultimate goal: a consistent winner.
Jahn’s: That’s the point, too. Poles wanted those extra swings. He wasn’t in a position to just take one with the first pick. The Bears have too many holes on their roster. He needed more draft capital. You have to appreciate his process. They’re not an Anderson away from being a contender in the NFC. But now Poles has a No. 1 receiver for Fields, an extra second-round pick this year, another first in 2024 and then another second in 2025. I didn’t mean to repeat the compensation. But it’s worth highlighting it again. It’s a potentially franchise-altering haul for the Bears and a career-changing move for Poles.
Fishbain: And it came on the first anniversary of the Khalil Mack trade, the beginning of the Poles roster overhaul. It’s not easy to do a multiyear rebuild in the NFL, but George McCaskey has empowered Poles to build this team in a way we haven’t seen around Chicago in a long time. Next up is hitting on draft picks and getting the elevated play from Fields. If they are still lacking talent, they have the chips already for the next two drafts. Look at the Lions right now. It’s weird to point to them as a model, but they are arrow-up after last season’s success and this year’s draft picks. The Bears could be in that spot next year — or better if Fields takes off.
(Photo of Justin Fields: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)