The Bears endured one of their worst seasons in franchise history in 2022, but they now find themselves in a position of power thanks to it.
Chicago was already poised to be a big spender in free agency thanks to its league-high $98.9 million in cap space. But in the final week of the 2022 regular season, the Bears also clinched the No. 1 selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Immediately, there was intrigue surrounding the pick. Would the Bears trade it, or would they trade Justin Fields ahead of his third season and use the No. 1 pick to add a new quarterback to the fold?
MORE: Would the Bears really trade Justin Fields to pick Bryce Young in 2023 NFL Draft?
Chicago has steadfastly remained committed to Fields. As such, it appears that the Bears will not be looking to pick a quarterback with the No. 1 selection. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday the Bears are now "leaning toward" trading the top pick, and there should be no shortage of suitors.
The 2023 NFL Draft class has within it four potential first-round quarterbacks. It's possible that all could go within the top 10, so QB-needy teams may be willing to trade up to ensure they don't miss out on the prospects they most covet. And teams can only guarantee that they will definitively get their favorite quarterback if they trade up to No. 1 overall.
So, which teams are the most likely to target the Bears' selection at No. 1 overall via trade? Below is a breakdown of five candidates to watch as the 2023 NFL offseason unfolds.
Bears trade options for No. 1 pick in 2023 NFL Draft
Houston Texans (Nos. 2 and 12 picks)
I know what you're thinking. Why would the Texans trade up from the No. 2 pick to the No. 1 pick? They will certainly get one of Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud with that pick, so they can stay put and settle for whichever player doesn't go with the top selection.
That may be true, but it's also true that the Texans will likely have a preference in which top quarterback they want to acquire. Trading up to the No. 1 spot at any point would guarantee that they would get their guy to lock down the quarterback spot.
What might that cost? Well, in 2017, the Bears moved up from the No. 3 overall pick to No. 2 in order to select quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Chicago surrendered the No. 3 pick in addition to three mid-round picks — a third- and fourth-rounder in 2017 and a third-round pick in 2018.
That may seem like a lot to move just one spot, but if the Texans fall in love with a specific prospect, they could believe it is worth it. As such, Houston cannot be ruled out of the No. 1 pick sweepstakes.
MORE: Breaking down Texans' QB options from No. 2 spot in NFL Draft
Indianapolis Colts (No. 4 pick)
The Colts are probably the most likely team to trade up to the No. 1 spot. They haven't spent an early draft pick on a quarterback since Andrew Luck in 2012 and after starting five different veteran quarterbacks in Week 1 each of the last five years, it's time for them to go young at the position.
Could that involve getting Bryce Young? Maybe. Jim Irsay expressed an interest in the quarterback at Shane Steichen's introductory news conference.
"The Alabama guy doesn’t look bad, I’ll tell ya," Irsay said, offhandedly.
Young could end up being the apple of the Texans' eye, too, however, so the Colts may be motivated to get in front of their divisional rival if they really want the Alabama prospect. Additionally, trading up to No. 1 would ensure that Indianapolis would not fall to third in the pecking order if a team with a later pick jumped into the top four by trading with either Chicago or Arizona.
Chicago would also have an interest in moving down to No. 4 overall, as it would likely guarantee them a shot at either Jalen Carter or Will Anderson, the two top consensus defensive players in the draft. As such, the Colts look like a potential — if not, likely — trade partner for the Bears.
MORE: 6 best QB options for Colts, ranked from Bryce Young to Aaron Rodgers
Las Vegas Raiders (No. 7 pick)
The Raiders are on the list for the moment, but that could change any time if they are able to acquire someone like Aaron Rodgers via trade. They are expected to be in the mix for the veteran quarterback if he and the Packers split this offseason.
However, if the Raiders don't land Rodgers, then they may have to settle on adding a young quarterback to improve Josh McDaniels' offense. Because unless Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones or Geno Smith surprisingly shake loose, the Raiders' best quarterback option will be Jimmy Garoppolo.
Garoppolo is familiar with McDaniels from their time in New England, but he wouldn't necessarily represent an upgrade over the departed Derek Carr. As such, McDaniels and Dave Ziegler could swing big and try to trade up and draft the quarterback of their choosing. It wouldn't be cheap, but the brain trust made an aggressive move to get Davante Adams before. They could take a similar gamble here.
The only question is whether the Bears would be willing to drop out of the top six, but Chicago probably would be OK with that considering how many needs it has to fill this offseason.
MORE: Breaking down the Bears' options with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft
Carolina Panthers (No. 9 pick)
The Panthers may end up desperate to trade up depending on how free agency plays out. If the team isn't able to add a quality, veteran starter to its roster, it will be on general manager Scott Fitterer and coach Frank Reich to figure out a way to move up and guarantee the team a shot at one of the top four quarterbacks.
Would the Panthers necessarily want to move up to No. 1 overall? Maybe not, as they still have some needs on the roster. But would Carolina consider making the deal if it fell in love with one of the top two quarterbacks or wasn't confident it would land one at No. 9? Sure.
It would take a big package for the Panthers to move up to No. 1 overall, so perhaps they would be more comfortable just trying to leapfrog the Raiders if quarterbacks are poised to fly off the board early and often. Still, they will have a chance to move up to No. 1 overall if they can put together a package that intrigues Chicago enough.
MORE: Eight best quarterback options for Panthers in '23, ranked from best to worst
Tennessee Titans (No. 11 pick)
The Titans are probably the final team with which the Bears would consider trading. After all, they don't want to fall too far down the draft board. Going down to 11 is a stretch in and of itself, but the king's ransom of picks Chicago would receive would probably be worth it.
Of course, the Titans drafting a quarterback is no sure thing. Still, they had to cut ties with a lot of veterans due to salary cap issues, and it seems possible that quarterback Ryan Tannehill could be next. Malik Willis could be named his replacement, but he struggled as a third-round rookie last year so much so that the Titans started Josh Dobbs over him in the final two games of the season.
The Titans could still be willing to look at Willis and Dobbs if they want to reset their salary cap during what should be a down year for the team. Still, they have a great coach in Mike Vrabel and should be healthier than they were last year at a minimum. So, if Ran Carthon believes they can compete, he may try to make a splash with his first draft pick as a general manager.
Tennessee is probably the least realistic trade partner on this list for the Bears, but could still be a dark horse in the mix. And even if the Titans don't move up to No. 1 overall, don't be surprised if they are involved in trade talks to jump up and select one of the quarterbacks that doesn't go within the top five.
