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The Chicago Bears ‘are leaning towards trading the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft’ as they place their trust in quarterback Justin Fields … and ‘multiple’ teams have approached them with Alabama’s Bryce Young with the suggestion of being chosen first.
The Chicago Bears are reportedly listening to offers for their first draft pick as they lean towards putting their trust in Justin Fields and giving up the top pick.
The team’s general manager, Ryan Poles, has the No. 1 pick in a year when as many as 12 NFL teams could be considering a young quarterback, giving the Bears a lot of leverage when it comes to making a deal with a rival.
ESPN reports that several teams have already approached Chicago to try to trade for the No. 1 seed, with the Poles “leaning” to move the pick.
Bears QB1 Fields just finished his second full NFL season, having been drafted No. 11 overall going into the 2021 season.
Despite his 3-14 year, Fields was a bright spot and showed flashes of brilliance, throwing for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns as he worked his way up to become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Justin Fields was a bright spark in a difficult season for the Chicago Bears
Bears general manager Ryan Poles is reportedly willing to trade the team’s first draft pick.
Alabama’s Bryce Young is being tipped as the first quarterback pick in this year’s draft, with Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson set to go big.
The NFL’s annual scouting combine begins later this week, and general managers will be in attendance to speak with potential players ahead of the April draft.
Young and Stroud are expected targets for the Colts, who would like to move up from No. 4 to avoid losing an elite quarterback. The Houston Texans own the No. 2 pick and are also in the QB market, as are several teams with top-10 picks who might be willing to trade games when the Poles start comparing offers.
Bryce Young (left) and CJ Stroud (center) are two players expected to hit the big time in April
The Poles said in January that they would listen to any offer, without immediately rejecting the idea that a team could trade for Fields instead of the first pick. The Bears also plan to meet with quarterback prospects during in-person interviews in Indianapolis this week.
General managers often spend countless hours meeting with their own veteran players’ agents at the combine with free agency opening in two weeks.
They will also be in the company of their teammates during and after the players’ trial periods at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The No. 1 pick has been traded before draft day 12 times since 1967. This marks the first time the Bears have owned the No. 1 pick going into the draft since selecting Bob Fenimore in 1947. The ‘blonde bomber’ he was a running back at Oklahoma A&M. .