Add ESPN’s Todd McShay to the contingent of NFL analysts who believe the Chicago Bears will trade the No. 1 overall pick by the time the 2023 NFL Draft kicks off.
In McShay’s latest 2023 mock draft, he has the Bears trading twice.
In the first trade, McShay sends the Bears’ No. 1 overall to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the No. 4 pick, the Colts’ second-rounder (No. 35), a fifth-round pick, and “maybe even a 2024 Round 1 selection.”
I think removing “maybe” from that proposed trade is safe. There’s no chance GM Ryan Poles will move off the No. 1 selection without getting a first-rounder in 2024.
The second trade predicted by Todd McShay is with the Las Vegas Raiders, where the Chicago Bears trade back from No. 4 to No. 7 and get “at least” a third- and fourth-rounder. McShay thinks the Bears could land a second-round pick as well.
I get it, McShay is being pretty conservative with his trade projections, but I think he’s trading Chicago’s picks at a steep discount. Remember: teams pay a premium to move up for a quarterback, even if it’s from No. 7 to No. 4. And going from the fourth pick to the first pick to pick a QB at No. 1 overall comes with a 120% price tag, as NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said during his media conference call before the NFL Combine.
