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Colts owner Jim Irsay was not shy when addressing the quarterback position in his Tuesday press conference.

“No one can shy away from the fact what quarterback means in this league,” Irsay said. “That Alabama guy doesn’t look bad.”

This could be a bluff attempt, but it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to add another veteran quarterback to a team that’s had three of them in three years. The Colts are going for a young quarterback, and the only way to make sure they get the guy they want is by trading up to number 1 overall.

The Bears are in position to get an absolute haul for the pick. Many teams need a quarterback, and two solid prospects are coming out this year in Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.

The only negative of trading down is the Bears could miss out on Will Anderson or Jalen Carter. While you can’t go wrong taking one of them, The Bears still have a lot of needs to fill.

This makes Jim Irsay and the Colts the best option. You can get a good amount of draft capital, and still pick a generational talent.

A realistic deal that the Colts could offer is their 4th overall pick, their 2nd round pick, and a 2024 1st.

It’s a lot just to move up three spots, but the Colts will be competing with other teams trying to trade up as well.

The only other more intriguing option is the Houston Texans, who are one pick behind the Bears at number 2 overall.

Along with that pick, the Texans hold the 12th and 33rd overall picks. Regardless of what the Texans do, they’ll be in a position to take one of the two top quarterbacks in the draft. The only way they would move up is if they are in love one of them and can’t afford to miss out.

Things are already heating up for the 2023 NFL Draft and it’s only February. For Ryan Poles and the Bears, they’ll have their options on what to do at number one overall.

With the Bears having the most cap space in the league, they may want to look into extending some homegrown talent. The most realistic options include three players from the teams 2020 Draft Class: cornerback Jaylon Johnson, wide receiver Darnell Mooney, and tight end Cole Kmet. All three have proven they deserve extensions. It’s up to Ryan Poles to determine if they are worth the money they are asking for. Today, let’s project the contracts we could see them receive. 

Darnell Mooney: 4 years, $60 million      

The wide receiver market was flipped upside down last March when Christain Kirk signed an $18 million per year deal with the Jaguars. When talks of an extension for Darnell Mooney come up soon, he’s going to want a similar deal. I think $15 million per-year is a realistic number for Mooney. Many will question if he’s worth it. He’s a young wide receiver with a lot of talent, and that’s what it takes to extend players like him in 2023. 

Mooney has been a diamond in the rough since he was drafted in the 5th round in 2020. He’s been together with Fields for two years now, and keeping that connection intact will only benefit the Bears. In 2021 he put up his first 1,000 yard season. We’ve all seen his ability on deep routes to go up and make a play. He’s special. It’s unknown what the Bears wide receiver room will look like down the road, but no doubt Mooney should be a part of it. He needs more talent around him to open things up. Hopefully Chase Claypool can step up, and we’ll definitely see the Bears make a move to add to the position group this offseason. 

Jaylon Johnson: 4 years, $55 million

Johnson has proven he’s a solid cornerback in the NFL. I think around $13 million per year is just right. The top cornerbacks in the league like Jaire Alexander and Denzel Ward are getting paid around $20 million per year. While Jaylon is good, he isn’t with the elites right now. Something that does come into question is Johnson’s durability. He missed three games in 2020, and seven in 2022. That’s a decision Ryan Poles will have to make, but if we’re judging his play, he’s worth the extension 

With no help from the pass rush last season, Johnson only allowed 27 completions on 46 targets. In 2021, it was 41 receptions on 72 targets. Not bad at all. Johnson has proven he’s worth the extension. He’s great at jumping routes, and does a good job containing top tier receivers. He’s been one of the few bright spots on this defense, and hopefully he can continue to be that for years to come. 

Cole Kmet: 3 years, $21 million

Cole Kmet had a nice little break out this season. He put up 544 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. A nice surprise as he struggled to get going in 2020 and 2021. It would be a good idea for the Bears to get ahead of the game, and give him an extension now.

$7 million per year is a good price for both sides. Kmet is on the come up. He’s still only 23, and if he puts up another season like he did in 2022, he may be worth more. If they can agree to a small deal like this, there’s good chance it pays off. 

While Ryan Pace made some questionable picks in his tenure, he nailed this 2020 Draft class. All three of these guys have been the few bright spots of this Bears roster. At least one of them will likely get extended this coming March, it just depends on who.

The consensus among Bears fans is that they should trade the number one overall pick. A lot would say that’s a likely scenario, but are we doing all these mock trades for Ryan Poles to just make the pick at number one? If that’s the case there are two clear-cut options for the Bears: Alabama Linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Let’s take a look at both players.

Will Anderson Jr. was dominant during his time at Alabama. In 2021 he put up 17.5 sacks and 101 tackles for the Crimson Tide. In 2022 he put up another double-digit sack season with 10 of them, along with 51 tackles.

He’s great at stopping the run, quick off the edge, and getting into the backfield in an instant.

His pass-rushing speaks for itself. Again he’s going to beat you with his quickness. The guy knows how to get to the quarterback.

Anderson Jr. has a chance to be an absolute stud in the NFL. Without a doubt the best pass rusher in the Draft.

Jalen Carter is a freak at 6’3” and 300 pounds. Don’t let that fool you. For his weight, he has great speed.

Phenomenal run-stopper. He’s going to win with power. If he doesn’t make the tackle, he creates opportunities for his teammates by getting into the backfield.

That power also translates to rushing the passer. He creates havoc, forces bad throws from the quarterback, and forces him to scramble.

His stats don’t necessarily pop. He put up 32 tackles and 3 sacks. But his traits are just too good to ignore. Carter without a doubt has a chance to be a top-tier defensive lineman in the NFL.

Free agency could come to play in this decision. There are not many above-average edge rushers on the market. Not so much the case at defensive tackle. A lot of talent is expected to be available come March.

Due to those circumstances, I think Will Anderson Jr. should be the pick.

Nowadays you need a dominant rusher off the edge to be a contending team in the NFL. Anderson Jr. can be that guy for years to come.

If Jalen Carter is the pick, I don’t think people would be upset. Both are very similar in terms of potential.

The Bears will have a tough decision to make. They very well could trade the pick. If they make the selection, I think Will Anderson Jr. should be the guy.

It’s up in the air whether the Giants will bring back Saquan Barkley. They can franchise tag him or try to agree on an extension. It was reported that Barkley denied a $12 million per year deal from the team, and he’s looking for around $16 million.

The Giants also have to worry about paying quarterback Daniel Jones, as he’s expected to be a free agent. There’s a decent chance Barkley could be hitting the open market.

Barkley put up 1,000-plus yard seasons in three out of his five seasons with the Giants. The reason he didn’t eclipse that mark in 2020 was due to an ACL injury.

The Bears running back room has some uncertainty. David Montgomery is expected to hit the open market. Ryan Poles did say he wants him back, but maybe he will be intrigued by a potential upgrade.

The Bears are projected to have the most cap space in the NFL. Why not try to get one of the most talented running backs in the league?

Barkley is electric when he has the ball in his hands. He can change the course of the game with one play. The Bears can give him the $16 million per year he is looking for, and still have the most salary cap in the league.

The Bears can pair him with another game-changing runner they have in Justin Fields. While Fields did have a 1,000-plus yard season in 2022, he did say it’s not sustainable. General Manager Ryan Poles said he wants to see him improve as a passer.

Fields has it in him. We’ve seen the glimpses. Year three could be the season he takes a leap as a passer.

If that’s the case, imagine being an NFL defense trying to contain both Justin Fields and Saquan Barkley in the run game, and also make sure you don’t get beat with his arm. That will keep NFL defensive coordinators up at night. Not to mention the Bears could grab another receiver that can make an impact.

You can find value at the running back position anywhere. More and More teams are getting serviceable backs in the 6th and 7th rounds.

But the key word there is serviceable. Saquan Barkley is just different. He’s someone you can rely on when you need a big play.

Ryan Poles should be in on Saquan Barkley.

The biggest position of need this offseason for the Bears is a defensive tackle. They struggled to stop the run tremendously this past season. Luckily for them, the defensive tackle free agent class is solid. The Bears have $115 million in cap space to spend, and building the trenches should be the top priority. Let’s take a look at some potential options for the Bears. 

Da’Ron Payne, Commanders

The Commanders still can franchise tag Da’Ron Payne, but if he hits the open market, he will be one of the best free agents in the class. His ability to rush the passer is insane, as he just came off an 11.5-sack season. He also put up 64 tackles last year. Payne can change the Bears front in an instant. According to Spotrac, he’s projected to get $19.4 million a year. A hefty price, but Payne is only 25 years old and just had a phenomenal season. He can change the Bears front in an instant. And with the large amount of cap space they have, paying for a young stud for your D-line would be a good investment. Payne should be the Bears top priority when it comes to the position. 

Javon Hargrave, Eagles

Hargrave is the next best option at defensive tackle. He’s putting up great numbers this season: 11 sacks, and 60 total tackles. Hargrave is someone that can be your main run-stopper. He will make an impact in both the run game and get the quarterback. The mystery right now is how much he will get paid. Hargrave turn 30 this offseason. In 2020, he signed a 3-year, 39-million-dollar contract. We could see a similar average salary of $13 million per year this offseason, and maybe even a little more than that. The Bears should have their eye on him. Poles will have to get a feel for what he’s worth, and what other teams are willing to pay. If you can get a younger Da’Ron Payne for a little extra money per year, then he should do that. But Javon Hargrave is a solid option for the Bears, and he should be at the top of their list. 

Dalvin Tomlinson, Vikings

Tomlinson has been very consistent over the years. In five out of his six seasons, he put up over 40 tackles. He’s been one of the bright spots on the Vikings defense, and he will hit the open market in March. Spotrac projects Tomlinson will make about $8.5 million per year. He’s a solid option, and you don’t necessarily have to break the entire bankroll doing so. If Poles wants to go all in on fixing the defensive line, he could sign a guy like Da’Ron Payne or Javon Hargrave, and then also try and sign Tomlinson for around $8 million. 

David Onyemata, Saints

Another guy in the class that has been consistent throughout his career. Onyemata is going to get 30-plus tackles in a season. In only one of his eight seasons, he failed to put up 30 tackles. He will be entering his eighth season in the league, and his market value is projected to be around $9.6 million per year. Similar to Tomlinson, Onyemata is going to be productive on the line. He’s not necessarily a superstar, but he wlll go to battle in the trenches. Similar to Tomlinson, Poles could sign someone a little older and pair him with a top free agent or even someone from the draft.

A lot of options for the Bears come March. Ryan Poles said he wants to build through the trenches. He needs to at least get one of these guys to help the run defense that was one of the worst in the 2022 campaign.

In the past couple of years, we’ve seen teams with quarterbacks going into year three trade for a top-tier wide receiver to help them make a jump in their development. Stefon Diggs with Josh Allen, AJ Brown with Jalen Hurts, and Tyreek Hill with Tua. Justin Fields will be entering his third season in the NFL. The Bears could try and replicate what teams did in the past, and someone may have just become available.

It was reported that the Cardinals are going to shop DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. The Bears may want to explore the possibility of trading for him. Hopkins was suspended for the first six games this past season, and still managed to put up 717 yards in nine games.

At the trade deadline, the Bears gave up a 2nd rounder for Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool. While the Bears may have already made their move for a receiver, it would be worth it to make another. Claypool has potential, but there’s some uncertainty going into next season about whether he can step up and be a consistent receiver for Fields. With DeAndre Hopkins, you know what you are getting. He’s a smooth route runner and someone that you can throw it up to and he’ll grab it.

The Cardinals asking price for Hopkins won’t be incredibly high due to his age and contract. As of now, the Bears don’t have a ton of draft capital. Although it’s a strong possibility they end up trading back from the number one pick and gaining a good amount of picks. In that case, a 3rd round pick and a couple of late-round picks would be well worth the price for Hopkins.

Hopkins is the definition of consistency. In ten seasons, he put up six 1,000-plus-yard seasons. His lowest season came with 572 yards in only ten games. The argument that can be made that Hopkins is 31 years old. However, we haven’t seen any signs of him declining. He can still be a top-tier wide receiver in the league.

Justin Fields needs someone like him. If you’re Ryan Poles, you need to help your third-year quarterback as much as possible. Trading for DeAndre Hopkins can do just that.

The Bears secured the number one pick on Sunday with a loss to the Vikings, and a Texans win over the Colts. This was huge for the Bears because teams who are desperate for a quarterback will want to try and leapfrog the Texans. They could stay at number one and get a guy like Will Anderson or Jalen Carter. But they may want to trade the pick. Teams will be looking to get ahead of the Texans to try and get Bryce Young or CJ Stroud. If you’re a team like the Bears that has holes to fill, they will likely trade the pick. The amount of value they could get is insane, and it could end up being a bidding war for who wants it. The question is which teams are targets to trade back with, and what picks or players could the Bears get in return? 

Houston Texans #2 overall

The Texans could have lost on Sunday versus the Colts and remained number one. But that was not the case, and if you’re a Texans fan, you got to be a little disappointed. The Texans can avoid teams trying to jump in front of them by simply trading up to number one overall. If you’re the Bears, the Texans are a very enticing option to trade back with because they have a lot to offer in terms of value. Houston has picks 12, 33, 65, and 75. Ryan Poles could call up Nick Caserio and say he’s got a lot of suitors for the pick. Maybe they panic and end up offering a good amount for number one. 

If the Texans like both Young and Stroud, they can just wait and see what happens with the first overall pick. However, during the process teams usually fall in love with one over another, which could trigger Houston to offer a trade for number one. 

Indianapolis Colts, #4 overall

When it comes to trying to get the quarterback position right, Jim Irsay and Chris Ballard are no strangers to being aggressive. They traded for Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan which both ended up failing tremendously. Now the Colts are close enough that they can target a young quarterback. To make sure they get their guy, a trade is possible from pick 4 to pick 1. In terms of trade value, the Colts hold picks 35, 79, 99, a 1st next year, and a 2nd next year. In order to get the number one pick, the Colts will have to give up a lot of that draft capital.

The Bears will have suitors and will hold a high price for the pick. Teams who need a quarterback will do crazy things to make sure they get their guy. Another option that could come up in terms of trade value is a player being involved. The Colts have many assets like Quinten Nelson, Deforest Buckner, Michael Pittman, and Shaquille Leonard. If you’re Ryan Poles and the Bears, this is an option you may prefer or even ask for. You can add an already proven stud to your team and trade back a little bit. This may be a tough ask for the Colts, but without a doubt needs to be at least brought up in negotiations if you’re Ryan Poles. 

Las Vegas Raiders #9 Overall

The Raiders are another team that will be in the quarterback market, as they will move on from Derek Carr. In terms of how their roster is built, the best route for them is to draft a young quarterback and begin developing him. The Raiders have a handful of talented players but aren’t built to contend. They own the 7th overall pick, and could be an option for the Bears to trade back with. Enticing Raiders picks include the 7th, 38th, and 70th overall pick in this year’s draft, and a 1st and 2nd next year. For number one overall, it’s going to take a lot of that capital. 

Like the Colts, The Raiders also have a lot of assets that Poles could make an effort to have them throw in. Davante Adams and Max Crosby are some names that could get entertained. 

No matter what team it is, the Bears are likely going to get an offer for the pick. The best thing for the franchise is to trade it. Normally it isn’t a good thing to have the number one pick, but the Ryan Poles and the Bears are in a phenomenal spot in terms of getting some extra draft value, and building this team.

Ryan Poles will have to decide whether or not to bring back David Montgomery this offseason. He’s set to hit the open market after four seasons with the team. The question for Poles is how much will it take to bring him back, and what are the other options on the market.

In four years, Montgomery eclipsed 800-plus yards in all of them. In that span, he also put up 30 rushing and receiving touchdowns. He’s proved he can be a solid three-down back in the NFL. Not to mention, he and second-year running-back Khalil Herbert have become a great one-two punch.

As for his market value, it’s a bit of a mystery. He’s put up a solid resume and has gained respect around the league. A fair estimate would be around $8-10 million a year, with the length being 2-4 years.

If Montgomery were to walk, they have the option to spend money on another back. Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, Kareem Hunt, and Jamal Williams will hit the open market in March. A lot of names similar to the talent of Montgomery.

However, teams nowadays can find productive running backs in the later rounds of the draft. It may make sense to roll with Khalil Herbert and draft a back with one of their picks.

The bottom line, Montgomery is a good back. For the right price, the Bears should try and bring him back. With running backs being easy to replace nowadays, the Bears shouldn’t overpay. It will be interesting to see how this will play out. I could see it going either way.

Right before the trade deadline, the Bears traded a second-round pick for Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool. Ryan Poles decided with a weak free agent wide receiver class that he was going to be aggressive and get a young upside receiver.

However, the trade hasn’t necessarily worked out so far. In the 6 games he’s played with the Bears, Claypool has only 111 receiving yards, and has yet to get into the end zone. Not the start Bears fans were hoping for, but don’t panic just yet. In every game he’s played so far in a Bears uniform, Chase had under six targets. The Bears were also the number-one rushing team in the league this season, which was a reason for his low involvement.

Claypool has a solid build for a receiver. He’s 6’4, 238 pounds, and has great speed. We’ve seen the talent. He put up 800 receiving yards in 2020 and 2021, with nine touchdowns in his rookie season. Next season, he will be more involved. Justin Fields ran a lot this year, which part of it had to do with a sub-par offensive line. Once they address that, Fields and the Bears’ offense will be throwing a lot more, giving Claypool more opportunities. It’s way too early to be giving up on him already.

The only question is, was spending the 33rd overall pick giving away too much? Chase Claypool has proven he can play, but not at a high level yet. The potential is there. However, the Bears are entering a crucial offseason. The pick they gave away is essentially a first-round pick.

Not to mention other receivers could end up being available. Deandre Hopkins could be on his way out, and the Bengals may be looking to get rid of Tee Higgins. We see it often with third-year quarterbacks that teams will attempt to trade for an upper-tier receiver. Justin Fields would benefit from this.

The Bears can still do that, but having that 33rd-overall pick would give them more breathing room in terms of trading one of their picks. Upper-tier receivers become available more than we think. Nobody thought last offseason that Davante Adams and AJ Brown would be getting moved. But nothing is certain, which is why Ryan Poles made the move. He saw an opportunity to get a decent receiver and did so.

We’ll have to wait and see what the Bears do in terms of getting another wide receiver this off-season. Whether it’s a big name or a smaller one, Chase Claypool needs to succeed this upcoming season. The Bears and Justin Fields are counting on him.

The Bears couldn’t get it done on Sunday versus the Buffalo Bills, losing 35-13. With two games left in the season, the Bears have the second-worst record in the league at 3-12. The worst team in the league, the Houston Texans, defeated the Titans Sunday to improve to 2-12-1 on the season. The Houston win puts the Chicago Bears in play for the number one overall pick, as they are only a game in front of the Texans. If the Bears lose both of their final two games of the season, all the Texans need to do is win one of their final two games.

The Bears travel to Detroit on Sunday to take on the Lions, and they finish at home on January 8th versus the Vikings. As for Houston, they host the Jaguars on Sunday, then travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts to end the year. The game versus the Jaguars will be tough, but the Colts are beatable.

So why is being one draft pick higher so important? Two words: trade value. If the Bears were to get the number one overall pick, they would jump the Texans, who will be looking to draft a quarterback come late April. Houston will not be the only team looking to draft a quarterback, which will likely make the number one pick a hot commodity.

In the past, we’ve seen teams give up two first-round draft picks and more to trade up and select a quarterback. Quarterback is the most important position in all of football. You need one to win. When general managers find a guy they think can help turn their franchise around, they will give up whatever it takes to get him.

Ryan Poles and the Bears are still rebuilding this roster. As we saw last year, Poles is a guy who loves to trade back and gain more picks. The potential value the Bears can get from another team would likely be a good amount. They would be able to address more positions with the picks they get from a potential trade. The second overall pick is still a solid pick. However, if a team gets desperate for a quarterback, they will pay a good price to try and leapfrog another quarterback-needy team like the Texans. The Bears also don’t have to trade the pick. They can stay at one and still get a guy like Will Anderson, or Jalen Carter.

It may be the understatement of the year that the Bears are having a bad season. However, Justin Fields looks amazing. He’s making insane plays and good throws with no one around him. They have the most cap space in the league with a projected $110 million to spend. If you add the number one overall pick to the equation, The Bears are in the best possible situation a rebuilding team can be in. It’s not like the entire roster is terrible. You still have pieces on the current team that you can build around. If the Bears can somehow get the number one overall pick, this offseason could be very interesting.