NFL Trade Grades: Bears get king’s ransom from Panthers for No. 1 pick

NFL trade score distribution for the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers after the massive trade for the #1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
It was only a matter of time before the Chicago Bears traded the top spot in the 2023 NFL Draft. Once it became clear that Justin Fields wasn’t going anywhere, it was time to start a bidding war. And like the closest without going into The Price is Right, David Tepper and the Carolina Panthers will now have their pick of the litter in the middle with the winning bid.
On Friday afternoon, the Panthers completed an impressive trade with the Bears that includes four draft picks and wide receiver DJ Moore going to Chicago. The deal was first reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Big change project 🚨 🚨 🚨
Sources say the #Bears are trading the #1 overall pick to the #Panthers in exchange for great compensation including multiple first-round picks. Chicago holds and touches down in the ninth, while Carolina can draft their own QB of the receiver. pic.twitter.com/DNvYMStoxd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2023
So who won this trade? Let’s take a look at the details and then break down our NFL spot trade scores for this brutal deal that sets the tone for the offseason and the 2023 NFL Draft.
Bears trade detail: The Panthers give up huge amounts for the first pick
Here’s a look at the full breakdown of the trade, according to Adam Schefter:
leopards get
No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft
Get the bears
2023 first-round pick (No. 9)
2023 second-round pick (No. 61)
2024 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick
WR DJ Moore
The Bears captured the ninth overall in this year’s draft as well as the 61st overall, making up for the second player they gave up in favor of Chase Claypool. They’ve also improved the wide receiver room it’s lacking with the acquisition of DJ Moore and getting a first-rounder next year as well as another second-round pick in 2025. Talk about range.
As for the Panthers, they get to take first place and their pick of whatever prospective quarterback they want to make.
NFL Trade Scores: The Bears get their money’s worth on the first pick
When you look at the position the Bears had as the first pick, they were in the driver’s seat with a bunch of teams in need of the quarterback behind them. So they can always get a king’s ransom for this trade, but what they walk away with is exactly what they need.
Chicago’s move to No. 9 could preclude them from drafting top defensive prospects like Will Anderson Jr. or Jalen Carter, but they could still get an immediate impact defender or, perhaps more importantly, an offensive tackle to protect Justin. fields. What’s more pivotal, though, is that the Bears add a top-notch wide receiver in DJ Moore who has impressed despite his poor quarterback play, finally giving Chicago’s offense a playmaker.
And if that wasn’t enough, getting into the second round this year with an additional Top 64 draft pick in each of the next two drafts after 2023 is huge to continue building the roster for the future.
For everything you could have imagined for the Bears to enter into a deal for the No. 1 pick, this is an indisputable home run for Ryan Poles and Co.
Bears Trading Score: A+
NFL trade scores: Panthers make necessary move to pick No. 1 ground
The Panthers obviously give up a lot to make this trade. But in reality, they had no other choice.
Carolina sits with the No. 9 pick, behind nearly every other touchdown quarterback in the draft with the Colts, Texans, Raiders and even teams like the Seahawks and Lions sitting in front of them. They always had to pay more to move up in a deal with the Bears than those other teams just to get into the draft.
At the same time, though, trading up to the first pick to pick the best quarterback in this powerful class at the position is vital to the future of the franchise. The Panthers had tepid swings at positions like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, but they were clearly looking and in the market for a move just like this.
It’s expensive and giving Moore away keeps him from being in the “A” grade range. But it’s still a win for Carolina as David Tepper gets his man.
Panthers Trade Grade: B+