The Chicago Bears possess two first-round picks in the upcoming NFL draft. While their first pick, likely to be used on highly touted USC quarterback Caleb Williams, is unlikely to be altered, their second pick at no. 9 seems ripe for a trade. With only four picks overall in this draft, the Bears are likely eager to bolster their draft capital.
Given this scenario, it’s conceivable that Chicago may opt to trade their second first-round selection to move back in the draft and acquire additional picks. One team frequently mentioned in connection with such a trade is the Las Vegas Raiders, who are in need of a quarterback but currently hold the no. 13 pick in the first round.
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Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report recently outlined a potential scenario where the Raiders strike a deal with the Bears to move up to no. 9 if a top quarterback prospect remains available at that point.
In Tansey’s proposed trade scenario, the Bears would send their no. 9 pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for the Raiders’ no. 13 pick, their second-round pick (no. 44), and their fifth-round pick (no. 148).
This trade makes sense for the Raiders only if a highly coveted quarterback is still available when the Bears are set to make their second first-round selection. While top prospects like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels are likely to be off the board by the ninth pick, quarterbacks such as J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. might still be available.
It’s speculated that the Raiders would target McCarthy if he remains available and would be willing to part with multiple draft picks to secure him. The inclusion of their second-round pick, particularly, could be enticing for the Bears during trade negotiations.
The Bears, while interested in drafting a wide receiver with the ninth pick, could benefit from acquiring additional draft capital to address other areas of their roster. If the Raiders’ offer is compelling enough, the Bears may opt to leverage their position and improve their team further with selections later in the draft, or potentially select a top wide receiver at the no. 13 spot.
As with any draft-day trade, various factors will influence decision-making. However, with the Bears holding a valuable asset at no. 9 and already securing the top quarterback prospect in Williams, they have flexibility to engage in trade discussions with the assets they have remaining.
