NFL rumors: Bears draft meeting may signal surprise trade

March 2, 2023 ndowd

The Chicago Bears met with a first-round NFL Draft prospect twice so far. Could that signal a surprise trade further down the draft board?

The Chicago Bears are the talk of the NFL Draft, as they hold the first-overall pick and have no need for a quarterback. With that, the team is reportedly open for business regarding the No. 1 selection, and would be willing to trade down with a team. With there being so many quarterback-needy teams in the Top 10, one has to wonder if the Bears would be willing to take a significant drop down the draft board.

Could there be a preference as to who the Bears are targeting with their first-round pick?

While speaking with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine, Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson said he met with the Bears twice.

I should have said, “met twice, once yesterday”

It’s early, y’all

— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) March 1, 2023

Could Bears’ draft meeting signal a trade down in the NFL Draft?

Wilson is undoubtedly going to be a Top 10 pick in the upcoming draft. He is considered a top edge rusher in this class, just behind Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr., as he stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 275-pounds. This past season at Texas Tech, Wilson recorded 61 total tackles (36 solo, 25 assisted), 14 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 10 games.

The defensive end spoke highly of the Bears when meeting with them, and he said that the team would get “a face of the franchise” if they were to select him.

Tyree Wilson said he wanted the Bears to know he’d be the “face of the franchise” if drafted and “bring the draft class along with him” https://t.co/D6EkU68JyF

— Josh Schrock (@Schrock_And_Awe) March 1, 2023

As is the case every year, a prospect can have a meteoric rise up the rankings at the NFL Scouting Combine. We saw that last year with Georgia’s Travon Walker, who was ultimately selected first-overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Wilson, he will only be interviewing with teams, as he is recovering from foot surgery he underwent back in November. But, he is getting “rave reviews” from teams in interviews, per NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah.

A couple players receiving rave reviews for interviews with teams- Tyree Wilson & Michael Mayer. I’ve heard both of those names come up multiple times. Polished pros.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 1, 2023

The following teams in the Top 10 have obvious needs at a quarterback — Houston Texans (No. 2), Indianapolis Colts (No. 4), Las Vegas Raiders (No. 7), and Carolina Panthers (No. 9). There could be plenty of movement up the board once the first quarterback is taken, especially if the Bears trade the first-overall pick to another team. That could open the door for more teams to move up, and potentially for the Bears to trade down again to accumulate more draft capital. That could allow the Bears to move down, and still be able to select Wilson.

Again, a lot of things can change throughout the NFL Draft process. In all likelihood, the Bears may be afraid to move outside the Top 3 if Wilson’s stock rises. But, considering Wilson has met with them twice already, he is a prospect Bears fans need to keep an eye on.

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