Ryan Poles, the Bears’ general manager, has yet to finalize a plan for how he will use the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. He envisions numerous potential scenarios for the Bears’ future, including unforeseen developments in the coming weeks. However, one thing he is sure of is that any general manager seeking to acquire the top pick will need to offer a significant benefit to the Bears’ organization.
Poles cannot determine a specific value for the No. 1 overall pick until he has a complete understanding of the situation, but he does refer to last year’s trade with the Panthers as a reference point. In that trade, the Bears received DJ Moore, the No. 9 and No. 61 picks in the 2023 draft, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick. These assets were used to acquire Darnell Wright and Tyrique Stevenson, and the 2024 first-rounder became the No. 1 overall pick again this year.
Poles is looking for a similar return to enhance the Bears’ roster. If the Bears trade down from the No. 1 pick, they may not be able to select a player considered the best in the draft, but they could gain more draft capital. Conversely, if they stay within the top five, they might not receive as much in return but will have a better chance of adding top-tier talent.
The Bears’ decision will also be influenced by the quality of players available at their potential draft positions. For example, if they only have top-tier grades on seven players, Poles may be less inclined to trade back to No. 8 or beyond. Additionally, Poles emphasizes that draft capital is only as valuable as the players it brings, and the team must make the right choices with their picks.
Ultimately, the Bears are not currently inclined to trade away the No. 1 overall pick. They view this as an opportunity to gather information, evaluate draft prospects, and make the best decision for the Chicago Bears.
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