John E. Moore III/Getty Images
On Friday, the Chicago Bears made what has to be one of the best trades in the history of their franchise, which sent:
- Wide Receiver D.J. Moore
- 2023 #9 Overall Pick (First Round)
- 2023 #61 Overall Pick (Via The San Francisco 49ers)
- 2024 First-Round Pick (Carolina Panthers)
- 2025 Second-Round Pick (Panthers)
In exchange for:
- 2023 #1 Overall Pick
At this point in time, we don’t know how any of it will pan out, but on paper, this move is absolutely brilliant. The Bears have their franchise guy under center, meaning the first overall pick was nowhere near as valuable to them as it would be to a team like Carolina, Indianapolis, or Houston. The entire world knew they were moving the pick before draft night, with only a matter of time before it was no longer in their possession. The Panthers happened to pounce on the opportunity, moving Chicago to ninth overall. Let’s take a look at the best players the Bears could realistically snag at their new draft position.
1. Peter Skoronski, Offensive Line, Northwestern
Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski is the best bet at the nine spot for the Bears. Skoronski can be plugged in at multiple spots (preferably Guard) and would almost immediately improve Chicago’s protective unit for Justin Fields. The potential of Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, and Peter Skoronski as a trio is sky-high and it’s time for the Bears to prioritize keeping their quarterback safe. The offensive line was an issue with Mitchell Trubisky and now with Fields, the squad still ranks toward the end of the NFL. Skoronski is extremely athletic at 6’4 and 315 pounds, being one of the better pass-blocking prospects we’ve seen in a while. Giving Fields more time in the pocket is exactly what Chicago needs, and the Northwestern product wouldn’t need to move too far away from his college town to provide that.
2. Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
The chances of Tyree Wilson falling to nine aren’t extremely high, but with the unpredictability of the draft, it’s a possible scenario that would be a strike of a pick for Chicago. Wilson is a physically freakish defensive lineman who can create havoc for opposing offenses. After losing Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, Akiem Hicks, and Eddie Goldman, among others last offseason, it’s essential for the Bears to rebuild their lackluster defensive line. For the first time in a while, the offense wasn’t the primary issue for the Bears, but rather the defense. Wilson is a disruptive giant, whose length alone allows him to do so much. It would be an A+ pick at the back end of the top 10, helping rebuild the Bears’ defense.
3. Bijan Robinson, Running Back, Texas
Although running back may not be the highest priority for the Bears with Khalil Herbert making a huge mark on the run game last season, Bijan Robinson would be a luxury for any team. David Montgomery most likely won’t be returning to Chicago and if the Bears have the opportunity to take Robinson, who might be the best overall prospect in the draft, they might take it. Would it make the most sense? Not completely. Would it be a fun pick? 1000%.
Who do you think the Bears will take?
