Bears predicted to draft 23-year-old star to complete infamous Panthers blockbuster

The Chicago Bears were involved in one of the most memorable trades in recent NFL Draft memory, and that trade officially becomes finalized on Friday.

In March of 2023, the Bears traded the number-one pick in the next month's draft to the Carolina Panthers for the chance to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. In exchange, Chicago hit the motherlode.

The Bears got receiver D.J. Moore, who has 2,330 receiving yards in his two Chicago seasons. They got Carolina's first-round pick in 2024, which became starting quarterback Caleb Williams. They also got first and second-round picks in 2023, which they turned into offensive tackle Darnell Wright and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

And lastly, they got the Panthers' second-round pick in the 2025 draft, which they will finally get to spend on Friday.

But who will Chicago select? On Friday, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic predicted it would be Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery, who could help bookend the offensive line with Wright and help protect Williams for several years to come.

"In Round 1, the Bears landed Colston Loveland, a perfect fit for Ben Johnson’s offense. On Friday, Chicago has a chance to get tougher up front," Baumgardner wrote.

"The hulking 6-6, 331-pound Ersery could be a long-term answer on the left side."

Ersery, 23, was a Sporting News second-team All-American in 2024, starting all 13 games for the Golden Gophers at left tackle. He was also named the Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year.

It would be a fitting conclusion for the Bears to get the final missing piece of their offensive line with the last pick in the Young-Williams trade. No one can say with certainty yet how both QB's careers will play out, but the Bears gave Williams every chance to succeed.