Report: Bears Demand Price for Raiders’ No. 1 Pick Revealed, originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Bears cashed their tokens early, trading their coveted #1 for the #9, #61, a first and second pick in the 2024 and 2025 drafts, respectively, and DJ Moore from the Carolina Panthers.
Ryan Poles and the Bears have had discussions with several teams about the No. 1, including the Las Vegas Raiders.
What did the Bears ask the Raiders for first overall pick?
One 2023 first round pick, one 2023 second round pick, two future first round picks, and one future second round pick the athlete. According to the report, the Raiders never made a formal offer and felt the Bears’ asking price was too high.
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Obviously, that trade would have given the Bears a deeper war chest of draft picks. But as the report showed, the asking price was too high for the Raiders. Plus, the Bears arguably got a better fortune from the Panthers with DJ Moore.
Instead of betting on a future prospect, the bears in Moore traded for a proven one. He recorded three straight 1,000-yard seasons of poor quarterback play between 2019-21. In Moore, the Bears bring a #1 pass catching option to pair with Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool and Cole Kmet.
Had the Bears gone with the Raiders and compromised on a fair trade, they would have banked on their ability to put together a team rather than act immediately. The Bears may have skipped rebuild time by trading for players rather than picks.
By trading the selection early, the bears have also traded compensation value for time. It’s all the more likely that the bears would have received more compensation had they waited to trade the election closer to Draft Day. However, they swapped it out well before draft day.
In doing so, the Bears crossed the “elite pass-catcher” off their laundry list and bought themselves time to outline a new free agency offseason plan and draft. And they took advantage of the plan and let the market come to them.
The story goes on
The Bears quickly signed Tremaine Edmunds, TJ Edwards and Nate Davis. They added Travis Homer, D’Ontra Foreman and PJ Walker after their first start. The Bears added skill players they see fit into their scheme and marginal signings.
Now the question remains, how will the Bears attack the draft? They’ve barely touched the trenches, so they’re all the more likely to rush into improving the offensive and defensive lines.
How would they have navigated the free hand if they found a deal with the Raiders?
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