NFL Draft: Bears Trade No. 1 Pick to Falcons? Oddsmakers Say ...
INDIANAPOLIS -- The NFL Scouting Combine is set to get started Tuesday with press conferences from coaches and general managers - but talk surrounding the 2023 NFL Draft is already heating up.
According to ESPN, the Chicago Bears are "leaning towards" trading the draft's No. 1 overall selection.
But it takes two to tango - and could the Atlanta Falcons be the Bears' dancing partner?
According to Bet Online, the Falcons are tied with the Carolina Panthers for the fifth-best odds to make the No. 1 overall selection at +600.
Atlanta trails only the Houston Texans (+250), Indianapolis Colts (+275), Chicago Bears (+350) and Las Vegas Raiders (+500).
Not far behind the Falcons are the New York Jets (+800), Washington Commanders (10/1) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12/1).
But why would the Falcons even have interest in trading up seven spots considering the cost that comes with acquiring the top selection?
Typically, trades for the No. 1 pick are done with the intent to draft a quarterback - and NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah told Falcon Report last week that "there's a chance all four (top quarterbacks) go" before Atlanta is on the clock at No. 8 overall.
The four quarterbacks referenced by Jeremiah are Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Florida's Anthony Richardson and Kentucky's Will Levis.
But considering the Falcons already have last year's third-round pick Desmond Ridder on the roster, it's unlikely they'll add another quarterback on a rookie deal - so attention should shift to the defensive front.
Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Alabama outside linebacker/defensive end Will Anderson Jr. have been viewed as two of the top players in the class dating back to last summer.
Both Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith have stressed Atlanta's need to "prioritize" improving its pass rush, whether it be from the interior or exterior defensive line.
As such, it's far more likely that Carter or Anderson would be the target of a trade-up, not a quarterback ... but the overall likelihood of a move to No. 1 seems slim.
But according to the oddsmakers, maybe it's not so far-fetched - making the situation one to monitor moving forward.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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