The deal is done. The speculation is over. The Chicago Bears have sent the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers in a blockbuster trade that will send star wide receiver D.J. Moore and a four draft picks (No. 9, No. 61, 2024 1st, 2025 2nd) to Chicago.

Carolina is now positioned to get their franchise quarterback, while the Bears get an elite weapon for Justin Fields and a haul of future draft capital. Both franchises took large steps in a clear and deliberate direction. 

But where does this trade leave other QB needy teams? Specifically, what does having the first pick in Carolina mean for the Tennessee Titans and the future of the AFC South?

For starters, it strongly suggests that Ryan Tannehill will be back as the starting quarterback in Nashville next season. 

With Carolina, Houston, and Indianapolis almost certainly all selecting quarterbacks with three of the first four selections in the draft, the window for the Titans to trade up and draft their franchise QB is all but closed. Sure, there is still a sliver of a chance that Tennessee could make a move with old friend Monti Ossenfort and the Arizona Cardinals for the third overall selection, but seeing as you'd have to settle for which quarterback is left on the board, that feels unlikely. 

Unless the Titans choose to go straight into rebuild mode by releasing Ryan Tannehill and starting Malik Willis, Tannehill will be back in two-tone blue for the 2023 season.

That leaves Tennessee in an unfortunate state of purgatory. The Titans are not positioned to go all in for Aaron Rodgers this offseason, and by keeping Tannehill, Derrick Henry, and other pieces of your core around, it's not like the Titans will be a prime candidate to pick at the top of next year's draft either.

The good news? The Texans and Colts can't be too happy in their own regard.

On his way out the door as head coach, Lovie Smith picked up a Week 18 victory with the Texans to move them to 3-13-1 and behind the Bears in the draft order. Now, Carolina will have their first choice of quarterback, and Houston will now have to live with picking from whoever is left.

As for Indianapolis, Jim Irsay, GM Chris Ballard, and new head coach Shane Steichen will settle for the third (potentially fourth if AZ trades out) quarterback in the draft. Meanwhile, former Colts HC Frank Reich is getting his guy from right under their noses. The Colts may not even be a quarterback that they love on the board by the time it's the their turn to pick. 

It's also possible that the Colts want to ensure that nobody else jumps them and they take it upon themselves to strike a deal with the Cardinals, giving up additional draft capital to move up just one spot.

The entire AFC South could look back on this deal in a few years as a defining moment for the future of the division. It certainly makes the QB situation for 2023 a bit more cloudy.

Image via Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports