The Chicago Bears have managed to hatch plenty of surprises in the 1st round over the past decade. There was the trade up from #3 to #2 to get Mitch Trubisky in 2017, then going from #20 to #11 in 2021 for Justin Fields. Then, in 2023, they traded down twice from #1 overall before taking Darnell Wright. This team doesn’t seem able to do things with any sense of normalcy. It always seems like they have to make a spectacle of the action. Could GM Ryan Poles do it again on Thursday night later this month?
Eastern Conference Playoff Odds and Standings Breakdown
Pro Football Focus seems to think so. They believe the Bears will pull off a blockbuster move in the 1st round by trading up to #2 overall with the Cleveland Browns to select star Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter.
2. TRADE Chicago Bears: EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
Trade terms: Bears receive Pick No. 2; Browns receive Pick Nos. 10, 39 and 148 and a 2026 first-round pickThe Bears evidently believe their roster can win now and have been aggressive to maximize that opportunity. What’s more aggressive than jumping into the top three to grab the best pass rusher in the class? Dayo Odeyingbo is a solid veteran signing, but Carter’s 93.0 PFF pass-rush grade on true pass sets would raise Chicago’s defense into the upper echelon and is well worth the price needed to acquire him.
This would unquestionably be a win-now move. Carter is seen by many as the best or second-best prospect in the entire class alongside Travis Hunter. He’s drawing comparisons to Micah Parsons and Von Miller. The Bears haven’t had somebody of that caliber since Khalil Mack left. Pairing him with Montez Sweat could transform their defense into something special.
The Chicago Bears need to be sure if they do this.
Such a move only happens if a team believes it is on the cusp of a Super Bowl push. Does Poles have the right to feel they’re that close? The team hasn’t posted a winning record since 2018. They’re breaking in a new coaching staff. It feels like such a move would be unnecessarily reckless, even for a prospect as good as Carter. Poles has never been shy about being aggressive, but the Chicago Bears are already light on draft picks over the next two years, with seven this year and six in 2026. Giving away even more runs the risk of sacrificing their long-term future, especially if Carter doesn’t live up to the hype. Anything is possible, but this feels like something that is a little too aggressive for where the team is at right now.
