How the No. 1 decide adjustments Panthers’ QB technique … and what’s subsequent for the Bears

One of many urgent questions of the early NFL offseason was answered emphatically on Friday, when the Chicago Bears dealt the No. 1 decide within the 2023 NFL draft to the Carolina Panthers for a bundle together with huge receiver DJ Moore, two first-round picks (2023 and 2024) and two second-round picks (2023 and 2025).

The transfer marked the first time since 2016, when the Los Angeles Rams moved as much as choose quarterback Jared Goff, that the No. 1 decide was dealt previous to draft day.

The transfer resets the draft technique for each groups and will dramatically change the panorama for quarterback-hungry groups deciding on within the high 10. The highest two betting favorites to be the No. 1 decide as of Friday evening have been former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud (-225) and former Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger (+175), in accordance with Caesars Sportsbook.

NFL reporters David Newton and Courtney Cronin supply particulars on what the megadeal might imply for each Carolina and Chicago heading into the April 27-29 draft, and past.

What does this deal imply for the Panthers?

This implies Alabama’s Bryce Younger, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud or Kentucky’s Will Levis shall be Carolina’s beginning quarterback in some unspecified time in the future in 2023, perhaps even Week 1. Whereas Carolina hasn’t settled on one of many three at this level, in accordance with a supply with direct information of commerce talks, it will be a tough promote to go together with Florida’s Anthony Richardson, who is taken into account extra of a challenge.

However having management of the highest decide assures that basic supervisor Scott Fitterer and coach Frank Reich will get their most popular quarterback to work with the workers of Reich, senior assistant Jim Caldwell and first-year quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.

The early favorites for No. 1 are Younger and Stroud, who each appeared to impress the Carolina workers most on the NFL mix, notably Younger.

“He is identical to chill,” Fitterer mentioned of the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, whose solely actual downside is dimension (5-foot-10, 204 kilos). “Nothing’s too large for him.”

A quarterback working on a rookie deal will give Carolina room to proceed constructing the remainder of the roster. A veteran similar to Jimmy Garoppolo or Sam Darnold is also added if the cash is true, although there’s an opportunity the midlevel quarterback market might turn into too steep for the Panthers’ liking.

The decide also needs to energize a fan base that has turn into weary with a three-year shuffle of retreads together with Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. It provides the group hope it has the participant who can scale (and finally exceed) related heights to Cam Newton, the highest decide of the 2011 draft who gained 2015 NFL MVP honors and led Carolina to a Tremendous Bowl.

Search for the Panthers to be energetic at huge receiver in free company, given Moore’s departure. A supply with direct information of commerce talks mentioned the workforce was not thrilled with shedding Moore, however surrendering him prevented Carolina from sending a further first-round decide to the Bears. Carolina might additionally look to improve the tight finish place to help its probably new quarterback. The Panthers have not had a real receiving tight finish since Greg Olsen in 2019.

Backside line, this implies the franchise quarterback that proprietor David Tepper has desired since buying the workforce in 2018 lastly is inside his grasp.

— David Newton

play

Damien Woody calls Bears’ haul for No. 1 decide a ‘slam dunk’

Damien Woody explains why the Bears did a wonderful job with the haul they bought for the No. 1 decide.

What does this deal imply for the Bears?

Dealing the draft’s high choice reaffirms Chicago’s perception in quarterback Justin Fields, who does not should marvel if the Bears will take one of many vivid QB prospects with the No. 1 decide. It backs up what second-year basic supervisor Ryan Poles has been saying all alongside, that Fields displayed sufficient enchancment in his second 12 months to be thought of a possible franchise quarterback.

And this commerce permits Poles and coach Matt Eberflus to improve the expertise stage round Fields.

Buying huge receiver DJ Moore, who turns 26 on April 14, improves Chicago’s receiving corps. Moore, Carolina’s first-round decide in 2018 and the No. 24 choice general, completed his time with the Panthers because the fourth-leading receiver in franchise historical past. In six seasons, he totaled 5,201 yards on 364 receptions and scored 21 touchdowns. He put collectively three 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 2019 to ’21 and posted a career-high seven touchdowns final season.

These numbers are higher than these of the highest huge receivers out there in free company, a bunch highlighted by New England’s Jakobi Meyers and Kansas Metropolis’s JuJu Smith-Schuster. Including a receiver in a 12 months when the depth in free company and the draft is not nice was a powerful transfer, particularly contemplating the Bears’ present WR group of Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, Equanimeous St. Brown and Velus Jones Jr.

Chicago now has 4 choices within the high 64 and 10 complete draft picks. The Bears can nonetheless get a high-impact participant with the ninth general choice, however the probability of including the draft’s high defensive prospect feels out of attain. Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson didn’t make it previous Arizona at No. 3 within the latest mock draft of ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay.

It is potential the Bears think about drafting Georgia defensive sort out Jalen Carter at No. 9 to fill a vital want with their inside cross rush, however the scenario round Carter — who not too long ago was thought of the highest participant within the draft — is unclear after he was charged on March 1 with reckless driving and racing in reference to a crash that killed a Georgia teammate and recruiting workers member.

With wants up entrance on offense and protection, Chicago might look to Northwestern offensive sort out Peter Skoronski. McShay had the Bears buying and selling twice and taking Skoronski with the No. 7 decide. If Skoronski makes it to No. 9, he may very well be one other participant to assist Fields’ improvement.

Chicago has a substantial hole between No. 9 and its second-round choice at No. 53, which it acquired from Baltimore after buying and selling linebacker Roquan Smith final November. The Bears’ personal second-round choice (No. 32) went to Pittsburgh within the Claypool commerce.

Discovering a solution to make up a 44-pick hole is likely to be Poles’ subsequent problem.

— Courtney Cronin