Should Chicago Bears trade for Daron Payne?

The Chicago Bears are likely to miss out on signing Daron Payne. As expected, the Washington Commanders are going to place the franchise tag on Payne when the time comes. The two will have until July to work out a long-term deal, but one thing for sure is that a franchise tag does not guarantee a long-term deal.

If the two sides do not come to a deal together, the Commanders could still entertain a deal. In this case, it beats them losing him for nothing. So, if Washington does shop Payne on the franchise tag, would the Chicago Bears have interest?

Should the Chicago Bears trade for Daron Payne?

The obvious question before we get too far is the cost. The Chicago Bears currently hold the number one overall pick, and then they do not have another pick in the top 50. It is fair to say that Payne is not worth pick one, and also that the Chicago Bears cannot trade a pick outside the top for 50 for Payne, either.

So, until the team trades back, they really do not have the ammunition it would take to acquire Payne. If they trade back and can give a piece or two of the trade to Washington for Payne, it would not be the worst outcome.

Still, you have to wonder if this is the route Chicago wants to go. At the number one pick, they are not a Daron Payne away. Payne would be an incredible fit in free agency, but once you start talking about trading away a top-50 pick, and paying Payne a big deal, it gets a little complicated.

The biggest value of those picks is four years of a completely reasonable contract. Beyond that, the Bears have a heap of cap space, and the number pick amplifies their draft capital, but this is not a team currently in a spot where they can trade picks. That situation can change, but it is still hard to see them trading something of that type of value away.

When you look someone like Javon Hargrave, who appears more likely to hit free agency, he may actually be a better option, and he will not cost a draft pick. Beyond Hargrave, there are plenty of options that could be signed and not cost the team a draft pick.

The Chicago Bears should keep their ears to the ground when it comes to Daron Payne, but the odds of them acquriing him went down significantly, even if a trade is not out of the picture.