Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears Make 2023 NFL Draft Trade For No. 1

The Chicago Bears have traded out of the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, getting a major haul from the Carolina Panthers.

The major domino of the 2023 NFL Draft has finally fallen. The Chicago Bears, armed with the top pick and several suitors, chose to move down in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers move up to get their choice at quarterback, and the Bears still have a chance to get a top player in the draft at pick nine.

Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears Make Trade Involving No. 1 Pick in 2023 NFL Draft

Compensation for the Bears includes number nine overall, pick 61 in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, a first-rounder in 2024, a second-rounder in 2025, and, perhaps the biggest piece of the deal, wide receiver D.J. Moore.

Moore is a huge deal for the Chicago Bears, who had to work to find a way to give Justin Fields what he needed in terms of weapons to throw to. Darnell Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown, Byron Pringle, and kicking the tires on N’Keal Harry weren’t enough. Even Chase Claypool doesn’t look great so far. So, Moore as the new WR1 in Chicago is phenomenal work by Bears general manager Ryan Poles. He can supplant Fields with more help at nine, whether it be a tackle or another receiver, or get a top defender to further bolster the defense.

As for the Carolina Panthers, they get their pick of the litter at quarterback for the 2023 NFL Draft. New head coach Frank Reich has a phenomenal staff, and owner David Tepper has been in the meetings with the incoming class of rookie quarterbacks. It’s clear they know who their guy is, and they got aggressive to secure him.

The 2023 NFL Draft now gets very interesting. Quarterback are likely to come off the board at picks one and two, and the Colts are sitting at four. Mock Drafts should be fun the rest of the process, and it will be interesting to see how the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears move from here.