(Audacy) The Bears have been the talk of the football world this offseason given their quarterback situation. Even after trading Justin Fields to the Steelers, the Bears have a few key decisions ahead of them as they prepare for the NFL Draft, which begins April 25.
NFL insider Brian Baldinger joined Dan Wiederer on the Audacy original podcast Take The North to discuss USC quarterback Caleb Williams, what Bears general manager Ryan Poles could do with the No. 9 overall pick that the team holds and how Chicago already turned two of its selections into gold.
“We’re going to find out what kind of agility (Ryan Poles) has because you’re going to need agility to maximize that No. 9 pick,” Baldinger said. “There are going to be trades that will be made before we get to draft night, but even on the clock, I mean if one of these receivers … is Rome Odunze available? To me, you can’t pass him up if he’s there at nine. Is Joe Alt somehow available? Is Dallas Turner available at nine?"
If there are multiple options available that the Bears like at No. 9, they could also consider trading back a bit.
“I feel like they need an edge rusher, they need a receiver, they need a corner," Baldinger said. "I think those are positions of need and then they may all be available, none of them may be available. To use the agility phrase here, what can you do to maximize that? Is it a trade back with a team where you can still get a guy that you really covet and get extra picks?”
Baldinger is already relatively high on this draft for the Bears due to Poles’ moves last season and earlier this offseason. The Bears acquired edge rusher Montez Sweat from the Commanders in exchange for a second-round pick back in October and more recently a fourth-round pick to the Chargers for six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen in March.
“I feel like the (second-round) pick for Montez Sweat is gold," Baldinger said. "Montez Sweat isn’t in this draft. There are good edge rushers; Montez isn’t in it. Keenan Allen in the fourth round probably isn’t available. So I feel like the second- and fourth-round picks have already been turned into gold.”
Williams is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, and the Bears already added two key pieces with their second and fourth-round picks. The big question is what Poles can do with the Bears’ own first-round selection at No. 9.
“Now, what can you do with that No. 9 pick?” Baldinger said. "Is there another nugget of gold that the Bears can access there with that pick?”