We know the Chicago Bears are desperate to find a quarterback. However, with the top three picks of the 2021 NFL Draft all going quarterback, the odds of them getting their top man is looking less and less likely. With 16 picks to go and only two of the five first-round graded QBs left, the Bears can essentially cross off a first-round QB from their wish list if they do not trade up for one of the last two.
If they were to trade up, the question is how high can they get? The first team they will call is Atlanta. Reports have been that Atlanta will listen to trade calls, but Is deciding between Trey Lance or Kyle Pitts at that spot. The Bears may not be able to trade with Atlanta, but if Atlanta does take the generational tight end, it could open a door for them to draft a quarterback.
This leaves the Cincinnati Bengals at 5, but all reports are that they will stay there, knowing they can get a top one or two non-QB to help Joe Burrow. At six, the Miami Dolphins traded up after going to 12 briefly. They clearly have someone in mind.
At pick eight, the Carolina Panthers signed Sam Darnold and have a giant hole at tackle. They seem to be another team happy that QBs are going high so that one of the top tackles will fall to them.
So, if 1-3 go QB, and 4,5,6, and 8 go for their favorite non-QBs, it could leave two quarterbacks on the board for picks seven and nine.
This is ultimately more important for Chicago than other teams because of Detroit holding the seventh overall pick. It would be a surprise to see Detroit let Chicago get into the top 10 for a quarterback. However, if two quarterbacks fall past pick-six- let’s 4-5-6 goes Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell-it gives the Bears a chance for the fifth quarterback to fall to nine.
If Detroit and Carolina do not take a QB, there is a chance that two are sitting at nine. If Detroit trades down, the Bears have to get to nine if they want the last quarterback.
This, of course, is where Vic Fangio comes in. No matter how you break down the quarterback class, and what order they go, it is hard to think that any of the five falls beyond nine. Fangio and Broncos very well could take the fifth quarterback here, or they could trade down.
In 2019 the Broncos had a need at linebacker but traded back from 10 to 20 to take Noah Fant instead of Devin Bush. It would be the same drop and a trade-up that cost Pittsburgh just a second-round pick and third-round pick on top of their 20th overall selection. Considering it is a QB the stakes may be higher, but we have seen Fangio take the extra picks and move down in the past.
If Fagnio and the Broncos were set on a quarterback and were picking at nine, you would think that they would have been aggressive in getting to three. They very well could feel confident in Drew Lock and think that extra picks from Chicago would do their roster well.
The reality is that trading to four to Atlanta may be out of reach, and seven to Detroit unreaslitic. It is hard to see 5, 6, and 8 moving down considering how they positioned themselves this offseason.
The Chicago Bears may not trade up for a quarterback, but if they do get into the top ten for one, they will be trading with their old friend Vic Fangio.