Bears Mock Draft: Chicago Trades Down Twice for a King’s Ransom
By Hunter Haas
The Chicago Bears sit atop the 2023 NFL Draft order and will entertain offers to trade down on day one. In this mock draft, the Bears trade down twice for a King’s Ransom — and still wind up with a blue-chip prospect.
The Bears have already begun fielding offers for the No. 1 overall pick, with several quarterback-needy teams inside the top ten of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Texans and Colts are the leaders in the clubhouse right now, as they both would allow Chicago to land one of Jalen Carter or Will Anderson.
Bears Mock Draft: Chicago Trades Down Twice for a King’s Ransom
In the first trade of the mock draft, the Bears flip spots with the Texans, acquiring a first- and second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on top of No. 2, No. 33, and No. 104 from this year.
Mock Draft Trade #1
Houston selects Bryce Young at No. 1 overall, securing its quarterback of the future and still holding on to its ‘other’ first-rounder this year (No. 12) and its own first-round pick next year. With that, Chicago starts taking calls for another trade down.
The next trade will come down to two factors:
1. How far do the Bears want to trade down?
2. Will the Colts offer enough to justify a trade down at all?
Knowing Young is off the board, the Colts become concerned about missing out on a quarterback. Indy sends No. 35 and No. 106 from this year and adds two future second-round picks to sweeten the pot.
Although the Bears have a chance of fetching more in a trade offer from the Raiders or Panthers, such a move would take them out of the running for Jalen Carter or Will Anderson. After adding a slew of picks in the first trade down, Chicago opts to take the deal, knowing it will be in a position to land one of the blue-chippers on defense.
Mock Draft Trade #2
The Colts select CJ Stroud out of Ohio State at No. 2 overall. Indy was unwilling to risk two teams trading up and swiping the quarterbacks off the board. The front office wisely moved up to guarantee its choice of Stroud or Richardson. The Bears add more picks and still sit in a prime position at No. 4 overall.
Recap of both trades and the total haul for Chicago:
Bears Send:
-No. 1 (2023)
Bears Acquired:
-No. 4 (2023)
-No. 33 (2023)
-No. 35 (2023)
-No. 104 (2023)
-No. 106 (2023)
-Future CLE 1st (2024)
-Future HOU 2nd (2024)
-Future IND 2nd (2024)
-Future IND 2nd (2025)
Round 1, No. 4: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
If general manager Ryan Poles can pull this off, he should win Executive of the Year in a landslide. After two savvy trades, the Bears sit with a stockpile of assets and the No. 4 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Cardinals selected Will Anderson at No. 3 in this mock draft, effectively deciding for Chicago.
Georgia’s Jalen Carter is a game-wrecking defensive tackle and fills the all-important three-technique in the Matt Eberflus system. Chicago gets the player it likely would have taken at No. 1 overall. Every pick acquired is merely icing on the cake; what an incredible start to this Bears mock draft.