Bears Predicted to Flip $110M Playmaker for Top-5 Pick in NFL Draft
The Chicago Bears selected twice in the top-10 of the 2024 NFL draft, and if they're willing to let go of arguably their most explosive playmaker, they can do so again in April.
Chicago owns the 10th pick in this year's draft via its 5-12 record, which included a 10-game losing streak. Despite acquiring quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze in last year's draft with the Nos. 1 and 9 selections, respectively, the Bears can still use a lot of help.
The team has money at its disposal, with north of $83 million in projected 2025 salary cap space as of Wednesday. However, it also has a host of needs, including a near-total revamp of one of the NFL's worst offensive lines, another elite-level edge rusher and potentially a starting cornerback.
Chicago has two early second-round picks, one it acquired from the Carolina Panthers (39th overall) and its own (41st overall). That's a good amount of capital the Bears can use to address several of their most pressing needs, and the youth and affordability of the players they will select in those spots fits with the general timeline of key roster pieces like Williams and Odunze.
That all might argue against trading star wide receiver DJ Moore, who will play next season at 28 years old, to the New England Patriots in return for the fourth pick in the draft.
However, Benjamin Solak of ESPN predicted the team may do just that.
"After trying (and failing) in the Tee Higgins market, the Patriots will put together a solid trade for a veteran receiver. DK Metcalf and DJ Moore are the two names that make the most sense," Solak wrote on Jan. 6. "The Patriots won't mind sending away draft capital for immediate contributors, as they plan to trade out of the No. 4 overall pick anyway."
New England is one of only a few teams in the NFL with more money to spend than Chicago this offseason and can easily fold Moore's $110 million extension, which runs through 2029, into its salary cap sheet.
Dealing Moore would make Chicago's cap sheet all the more wide open while also allowing the Bears to target an elite left tackle, cornerback, defensive tackle, edge rusher or receiver in the No. 4 spot and bring their tally to four total selections in the first 41 picks of the draft.
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