LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams wasn’t entirely familiar with the terms of the trade that led him to the Chicago Bears, a deal that will tie the franchise to the Carolina Panthers for many years to come.
Like Williams, second-year offensive tackle Darnell Wright – selected by the Bears using part of the draft capital received in the deal – also wasn’t exactly clear on the full return of the momentous trade that was officially struck on March 15, 2023. But receiver DJ Moore, the lone player included by the Panthers in the deal, has an appreciation for how it played out.
The Bears traded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Panthers in exchange for the No. 9 overall pick in that draft, a first-round pick in 2024, second-round picks in 2023 and 2025 and also Moore.
The Bears then traded back from No. 9 overall to No. 10 overall in 2023, selecting Wright as their new starting right tackle. They landed a 2024 fourth-round pick in that swap with the Eagles, then used that selection to draft punter Tory Taylor. The 2023 second-round pick from the Panthers was used on cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
But the Bears’ biggest prize was the 2024 first-round pick the Panthers owed them, which become the No. 1 overall selection after Carolina went an NFL-worst 2-15 in 2023. With that pick, in came the 22-year-old Williams as the promising quarterback prodigy for a franchise desperately seeking a star at the position.
As the Bears (2-2) get set to host the Panthers (1-3) on Sunday at Soldier Field, the trade seems especially one-sided in Chicago's favor. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, whom Carolina selected at No. 1 overall in 2023, was benched two games into this season in favor of veteran Andy Dalton.
The blockbuster trade brought fortune to the Bears and may have set the Panthers back for many years to come.
“It's really remarkable when you think about it, how it all fell together like that,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said. “So, a lot of that's luck. I mean, a lot of that you can't predict. But it's also putting yourself in position. (General manager) Ryan Poles and his staff did a great job of that. There's a couple players that we could've been going for at the time, and I'm sure glad we got DJ. So, it worked out well.”
Poles struck the deal with now-former Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer not long after returning from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. In the two weeks leading up to the agreement, Poles and the Bears were actively shopping the No. 1 overall pick.
The Panthers wanted to send the Bears an additional first-round pick in place of Moore in the trade, but Poles preferred a star-caliber player to be included rather than a first-round pick in 2025. Fitterer eventually agreed to that and included Moore in the deal.
It proved to be an astute move by the Bears. Moore has 118 receptions for 1,553 yards and nine touchdowns in 21 games with Chicago, and he signed a four-year extension in late July that keeps him under contract through 2029.
“I mean, it was a lot,” Moore said of the trade. “But I haven’t really sat down and really looked at all the pieces we got. You can see it.
“Not to really go and think like, ‘Damn, we really made an impact.’ But we really did. Shoutout to (Ryan) Poles for that. It was a good trade.”
Back in 2023, the Bears bypassed the opportunity to select defensive tackle Jalen Carter and instead drafted Wright as they looked to stabilize their offensive line. The 23-year-old Wright has started all 21 games at right tackle since he joined the Bears and appears to be a key piece of Chicago’s future.
The rookie Taylor on Wednesday was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a strong performance during the Bears' 24-18 win against the Rams on Sunday.
Stevenson, 24, was drafted by the Bears with the No. 56 overall pick in 2023 and has already become a staple in Chicago's secondary. He has five interceptions in 20 games to start his NFL career.
Williams was named the Bears’ starting quarterback almost immediately after he was drafted. He has thrown for 787 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions in four starts while showcasing progress along the way.
The Panthers fired Fitterer in January, less than two months after head coach Frank Reich was dismissed only 11 games into his tenure. Now, the decision to bench Young has underscored Carolina’s significant miss in making the trade.
When the Bears welcome the Panthers to Chicago on Sunday, it will be Williams, Stevenson, Wright, Taylor and a team on the upswing against a foe searching for hope. The blockbuster 2023 trade was supposed to set both franchises toward bright futures.
Instead, only one team has reaped the rewards.
“Obviously, I’m grateful that it happened and to be a Chicago Bear,” Williams said.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.