Graphic by James Landgraf
March 10 will go down for Chicago Bears fans as one of the biggest franchise-altering days in the history of the team.
This was the day the Bears traded the no. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Carolina Panthers.
Mohammed Jbara
Freelance Contributor
Like many other fans, I’ve been pounding my fist on the table for this move because of how much of a haul the team will receive. This move will propel the team forward and give them clear direction on where they are headed draft night.
These updated picks reflect the best choices for them currently, given their choice to cash in on a bunch of draft capital.
Let’s begin.
The Chicago Bears trade the no. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers for the 9th overall pick, 61st overall pick, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and wide receiver D.J. Moore
This is the type of haul fans were dreaming of since week 18 of the 2022 season. General Manager Ryan Poles hinted multiple times throughout the offseason that he was open to trading the pick before the start of free agency on March 13. He even said he would like to add a veteran player in the deal as well, which made sense because it would essentially address a need on the team before free agency started. And that’s exactly what Poles did.
After the trade, the Bears will have 10 picks in the upcoming NFL draft, including three picks within 12 spots late in the second round and start of the third. With free agency underway, the Bears have spent a good amount of their $100 million in cap space by filling in the needs of this team, creating a clear approach to the draft. They must zero in on the line of scrimmage and bring in talent from the offensive line and defensive line.
Included in the trade is wide receiver D.J. Moore from the Carolina Panthers. Last season, Bears fans kept complaining about the lack of a solid wide receiver. Moore is regarded as one of the most talented in the league. In his five-year career with the Panthers, he gained 5,201 receiving yards. If he were playing for the Bears, he would have broken the record held by Johnny Morris, 5,059 yards. Moore will be joining Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool in the receiving core, which is better than last season.
With the 9th pick, the Chicago Bears select Peter Skoronski, offensive tackle, Northwestern
Peter Skoronski is listed as an offensive tackle, but because of his physical attributes, he has the ability to play offensive guard.
That’s the one knock with Skoronski: His arm length is significantly shorter than the average offensive tackle’s. But when his coach at Northwestern was asked about the concern, he laughed.
Skoronski’s versatility to play both guard and tackle is what I think will put him over the rest of the tackles in his draft class. Since the Bears are keen on keeping second-year left tackle Braxton Jones as a starter, Skoronski can come in to fill right tackle, a big need for the team.
Skoronski plays with a ton of physicality, which is a top priority for Poles. And when you add him to an offensive line that is in need of some juice, Skoronski is going to become the face of this new offensive line. He is a hometown talent as well, born and raised in Park Ridge.
With the 54th pick, the Chicago Bears select Adetomiwa Adebawore, defensive end, Northwestern
A few weeks ago during the draft process, teams weren’t so sure about Adetomiwa Adebawore.
Many projected him to not be drafted and be signed somewhere as an undrafted free agent. But after the Senior Bowl and his performance at the NFL Combine, he’s projected to be a late second-rounder.
The Bears have a glaring need for a defensive end, and Adebawore fits the defensive scheme the Bears are trying to run. They’re in need of fast and peak athletic edge rushers to wreak as much havoc as possible. After running a 4.40-second 40-yard dash and checking every box on the athletic drills at the Combine, Adebawore can do just that. He’s racked up 12.5 sacks in 34 games.
Adebawore wouldn’t be the main man on the defense but would still be a major upgrade to a defensive line that finished last in the league in sacks.
With the 64th pick, the Chicago Bears select Joe Tippmann, center, Wisconsin
The center position has been a glaring hole for the Bears for some time. They’ve been giving up constant pressure up the middle and giving Fields no time to stand in the pocket.
With Joe Tippmann and his high ceiling, the Bears could have their starting center for the next decade.
Labeled as a mauler, Tippmann is known to finish blocks and put defenders on the ground. He was graded as one of the best pass-protecting centers in the nation, essential for Fields to take the role of passer. As a Badger, Tippmann only gave up one sack in his two years as the starting center. Sliding him into the interior of that offensive line with Tevin Jenkins and free-agent-signing Nate Davis, Fields will get the interior protection he needs.
Since the start of the new NFL year on March 15, the Bears have so far invested $50 million in cap space and have 10 draft picks after the trade with the Panthers.
Great front offices are able to use cap space to upgrade talent while also manipulating those signing to create a clear idea on how to encounter the draft.
The idea? Address the trenches, the offensive line and the defensive line. The only thing to remind ourselves is that Poles and the Bears can have as much draft capital as they want. It’s how they use those picks that defines the legacy and Poles’ general managing tenure.
