The Chicago Bears are in an enviable position this offseason. Thanks to last offseason's trade with the Carolina Panthers, the Bears hold the No. 1 pick in the draft again. The team also owns the No. 9 pick, which is their own.
In addition to enviable draft capital, the team is also in a great cap situation. Only six NFL teams are currently projected to have more cap space than the Bears in 2024. These factors mean the Bears are in a great position to add talent this offseason and return to the playoffs next season.
Today, let's go over three trade scenarios the Bears should entertain this offseason.
Trade 1: Chicago Bears should trade Justin Fields
Look, the Bears have the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row. Last year, the team received an offer they couldn't resist and decided to stick with Justin Fields. Would the team be willing to pass up on a rookie passer again? With the No. 1 pick, the Bears will have their choice of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, or whomever they desire.
This is considered to be a stronger QB class than last year's. Several QB-needy teams may not be in a position to draft one of the top passers and may prefer to trade for an established option like Fields. The Bears should aim for a first-rounder in exchange for Fields, but they may find the market isn't so high on Fields
Even if the Bears can't get a first-round pick for Fields, they should still command a significant haul. It's just too risky to pass on a rookie once again.
Trade 2: The Bears should trade the No. 9 pick
In this scenario, the Bears have selected a rookie QB with the No. 1 pick and traded away Justin Fields. While some question what the Bears could get for Fields, it's expected that the team could at least get a second-rounder.
Currently, the Bears have two first-round picks and no picks in the second round. In the trade of Fields, the team would likely get a second-rounder for this year. The team could then decide to trade down from the No. 9 pick to add more draft capital. Once the team has their rookie passer, they can use the traded-down pick and extra assets to add talent around the young signal-caller.
The Bears aren't just two rookies away from competing. I believe taking their young QB and then adding more draft assets is the way to go. A QB falling could make the Bears' No. 9 pick even more desirable.
Trade 3: The Bears should trade for Stefon Diggs
A trade for a star wide receiver worked out quite well for the Bears in 2023. Why not try it again? Enter Stefon Diggs.
The star receiver has publicly questioned his future in Buffalo and could be looking for a way out. As we mentioned in the previous slide, the Bears have a ton of draft capital and could have even more after some maneuvering. The Bears desperately need a complimentary option alongside DJ Moore. This will be even more true if the team selects a rookie passer.
Giving a rookie QB a star receiver like Diggs alongside Moore and star tight end Cole Kmet would be a dream scenario for the Bears. They have the money and draft capital to get it done, and it would be a clear indicator that the team is set on competing in 2024.