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Falling Players and Trade Offers for Bears

Counting down all the things for the Bears to watch until No. 9 in Round 1 of Thursday night's NFL Draft.
Gene Chamberlain|
Falling Players and Trade Offers for Bears
Falling Players and Trade Offers for Bears

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Chicago Bears

Things were so much simpler when the Bears owned the first pick.

They would determine who to take, but then ultimately decided who they would trade down with, and what they got in exchange.

The draft arrives tonight at 7 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN Deportes, NFL Network, ABC) and the Bears need to be watching for just about everything.

The first Bears pick at No. 9 will be determined first by what others do. Some of the eight picks ahead of them will decide who they can take.

Decisions made by some teams behind them could make all the difference, as well.

Here is a watch list of eight things to watch for before the Bears pick at No. 9.

1. Houston Texans

If the Texans take a defensive player at No. 2, it means the supply of quarterbacks could last longer. The longer the quarterback supply lasts, the greater the chance teams from later in the draft could come calling on the Bears at No. 9 to move back and give them riches from farther back in the draft. The Bears also have to watch Houston for a possible trade up later to No. 9 because the Texans have No. 12, as well. If a quarterback falls and Houston takes a defensive player with the second pick, then it's possible they could be calling the Bears and offering a trade to move from 9 to 12. At 12, the Bears could conceivably get a tackle or another need position on defense.

2. Paris Johnson Jr.

The pick mock-drafted to the Bears the most is suddenly being rumored by NFL Network as a player of interest to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3. Before it was assumed the Cardinals would have interest in Will Anderson Jr. or possibly Tyree Wilson to help their pass rush. If Johnson goes to the Cardinals at No. 3, it could impact the Bears' choice. It will limit their tackle choice if they planned to take one. Also, if they take Johnson, it could mean one of the defensive linemen dropping to them.

3. Jalen Carter

This is definitely a situation to watch. The Bears have met with Carter three times, including one longer visit at Halas Hall. They think they know everything they need to know about him, positive or negative. So if Carter somehow gets past the Seattle Seahawks at No. 5, this will start to get dicey. The Lions could take him and it could mean future misery for the Bears offense. If the Lions don't pick him, then the Raiders or Falcons might have interest at No. 7 or No. 8. 

If Carter falls all the way to No. 9, are the Bears taking him or trading out with one of the teams rumored to have interest, like Pittsburgh? There is no more dominant a defensive player in this draft than Carter, but the downside could make him a disaster pick. The fatal car accident and charges against him and a reputation for not wanting to work hard even though he gutted out an injury last year are things to consider if Carter falls.

4. The Quarterbacks

Suddenly people are talking about Kentucky QB Will Levis again. Or is this just subterfuge? It's assumed Bryce Young will go first to Carolina. How long Levis, Anthony Richardson and C.J. Stroud last could determine where and who the Bears eventually draft at No. 9 or even later in Round 1. If a QB is still there at No. 9, the Bears could be going back as a handful of teams in the middle of the draft could have interest in a QB and offer a trade.

5. The Atlanta Falcons

They are the pick before the Bears so they are going to be the last team to impact the pick coming to Chicago. If it's Carter falling or one of the edge rushers, the Bears will have a decision to make if the Falcons pass on this player for someone else, like a cornerback.

6. The Wild Card

Running back Bijan Robinson is truly the wild card in this draft. Because he's a running back, no one knows for certain if a team would take him in the top 10. Despite his elite talent, backs are not valued as they once were. Then again, Robinson seems to be a generational type of back.

First, this impacts the Bears because Robinsons popping up in the first eight picks could mean a player they want has a better chance to drop to them, or if it's a quarterback pushed out of the top eight then it could mean teams making the Bears offers to move down.

And finally, if Robinson fell to No. 9, would the Bears take a back? Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham couldn't rule out taking a back in the top 10 if the player was talented enough. Well, Robinson is definitely talented, possibly the best since Saquon Barkley in the draft.

7. Tennessee Titans

A team behind the Bears to watch for a trade up into the No. 9 spot. The Titans are No. 11 and might want a player they fear Philadelphia would take. The Bears could trade with the Titans and maintain their ability to find a tackle, but the Titans themselves might be looking for a tackle. 

So this could be a tough trade for the Bears to make.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

The rumors last week had the Steelers moving up from No. 17 to No. 9 to try to obtain Jalen Carter if he falls. This is a team to watch if Carter has dropped to the Bears, but if they do take No. 17 it will come at a steep cost for Pittsburgh. Dropping from 9 to 17 is going to mean at least a second-round pick and another pick. Or it could mean the Bears get back the No. 32 pick that they actually gave the Steelers from Chase Claypool.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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