NFL insider lays the groundwork for the Chicago Bears to trade down

The NFL Scouting Combine takes place this week in Indianapolis and there is an expectation that the direction that the Chicago Bears will be headed in for the quarterback position will be revealed.

That does not mean that there will be a trade of either Justin Fields or the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft but as was the case last season when the Bears leaked they were moving the top spot in the 2023 NFL Draft, there is a chance that another strategic leak occurs this week.

Unlike last year, the popular theory is that the Bears will be keeping the first pick and trading Fields. While some NFL insiders believe the framework of a Fields' trade will be completed this week, others believe the opposite will occur.

In his Monday Morning Quarterback column that served as a retrospective of his career as a writer, the illustrious Peter King announced his retirement but left Bears fans with a tidbit on the way out.

"I suppose the Bears are going to trade the top pick. I know nothing, but that seems to be the way the wind is blowing. What I say: The Bears could keep Justin Fields (and should), and trade the first pick down once or twice, and build the kind of supporting cast a team needs to contend."

- Peter King, Pro Football Talk

It's difficult to decipher if this is opinion-based reporting by King or if he actually believes there is momentum toward the Bears trading the first overall pick. King has been a routine guest on Chicago sports radio airwaves where he has been steadfast in his opinion that the Bears should trade the pick and build around Fields. But, in terms of "the way the wind is blowing", it would actually seem that trading Fields has become the popular prediction.

Regardless, in his hypothetical scenario, the Bears still have two top-10 picks in the 2024 draft, along with second-round picks from the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons, and a total of five picks between the first and second rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

This is the type of historic move that would certainly be enough for general manager Ryan Poles to forego the opportunity at greatness with Willians and move forward with Fields as the starting quarterback but it doesn't seem to be a scenario that is the likeliest.

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