The Chicago Bears are looking to trade the No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
In return, Chicago would receive wide receiver DJ Moore; the Panthers’ first round pick, No. 9 overall; 61st pick; Another first rounder in 2024 and another second rounder in 2025.
Talks for the No. 1 pick had intensified since last week’s NFL scouting combine, sources told Schefter, with several teams including the Houston Texans also expressing interest in striking a deal with Chicago.
Adding Moore to a thin receiving corps was Chicago’s best chance to land the No. 1 receiver, given free-agency and the lack of depth at that position in the draft. Moore put together three 1000 yard seasons (2019–21) and has a career high 7 touchdowns in 2022.
This will be the third time that the Panthers have secured the top spot. He had it in his first season, 1995, but traded it to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the No. 5 pick and the No. 36 pick in the second round. They selected quarterback Kerry Collins at No. 5.
He also had the top pick in 2011 and picked Cam Newton of Auburn, who won the 2015 MVP and led Carolina to the Super Bowl.
During a recent interview at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Panthers general manager Scott Fitzgerald left open the option of trading the No. 9 pick.
“You go get the man you want,” she said. It’s very simple. If you don’t know and you’re going to give all these resources to get it, you’re doing your team a disservice in the long run. You better be right. You’ll have better confidence if you move up.
“But when you do, you’re all-in.”
Carolina has been searching for a franchise quarterback since Newton developed shoulder problems in the middle of the 2015 season. It departed Newton prior to the 2020 season and left with Teddy Bridgewater.
The Panthers traded in 2021 for Sam Darnold, the third pick in the 2018 draft. They traded for Baker Mayfield, the top pick of the 2018 draft, before last season.
They were recently in discussions for former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who signed with NFC South rival New Orleans on Monday.
During those discussions at the combine, team officials decided to focus on acquiring a quarterback in the draft.
They were high on Kentucky’s Will Lewis early last season, according to league sources. He was influenced by Lewis, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud at the combine.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper has Lewis as his top-rated quarterback, but other analysts believe Young will be the first quarterback selected.
Fitter said of Young at the combine, “Balance, competitiveness, ability to process and see the field.” He is never tense when he is in the pocket. And then you meet her in person and she’s just like chill. He is a good boy. Nothing is too big for him.
“I remember at the Heisman Trophy presentation a few years back. My wife and I were sitting there watching him, my son. And he was so poised. I think he was [20] At that point, it is not a task. It seems to be who he is. It is embedded in him.
ESPN’s David Newton contributed to this report.
