Four teams have 'significant interest' in trading for Bears' No. 1 pick
It’s basically guaranteed that the Bears will trade the top pick of the 2023 NFL Draft
Has there ever been a more obvious NFL Draft prediction than the Chicago Bears trading the No. 1 overall pick?
Outside of the Indianapolis Colts selecting Andrew Luck No. 1 overall in 2012, it's hard to think of something else. Teams with the first overall pick typically aren't set up like the Bears, i.e. they already have a franchise quarterback, so there isn't a ton of reason to trade out of the spot.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were in a familiar spot last year – they had the first overall pick but already had their guy in Trevor Lawrence. However, the 2022 draft class was nowhere near as strong when it comes to top quarterbacks, so they didn't have as near as many potential suitors as the Bears are going to have.
And, in fact, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, there are already four teams that have "significant interest" in trading for the Bears' top pick.
"From my understanding there is significant, significant interest in that pick," Rapoport said Thursday. "Among the teams expected to show interest: The Houston Texans at No. 2 would make sense, [it'd be] just a quick slide from one to two for the Chicago Bears. The Atlanta Falcons [are] still in need of a quarterback, obviously, that would be one to watch. The Indianapolis Colts at four have made it very clear general manager Chris Ballard is always open for business – does he take a big swing?
"Then, the Carolina Panthers still have some questions, as well, at the quarterback position, no doubt; they're looking hard at some of these top guys."
All four teams make a ton of sense and here's the best part: each pair is in the same division.
The Colts and Texans are both in the AFC South and the Panthers and the Falcons are both in the NFC South. Meaning, both teams will go hard when it comes to trying to pass over the other. Neither team wants their division rival to get a QB that could dominate said division for the next decade, and, they want their own guy, as well.
So, we could see some fireworks when it comes to the process of trading for the Bears' No. 1 pick.
As we all knew coming in, this is going to be a fun offseason in Chicago.
