Former NFL executive Joe Banner has expressed concerns over the compensation received by the Chicago Bears in their trade with the Carolina Panthers for the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In exchange for the pick, the Bears received a haul of draft picks and veteran receiver DJ Moore.
Banner likens the 61st overall pick in the 2023 draft to a third-round pick and questions whether the Bears could have received more for the first overall selection. He points to the Philadelphia Eagles’ trade in the past, where they gave up multiple first-round picks and more to move up to the second overall pick, and suggests that the Bears could have secured a better deal if they had waited closer to the draft.
On the other hand, the Panthers appear to be confident in their decision to trade up for the first overall pick. By securing the top selection in the draft, they will have the opportunity to draft a franchise quarterback or another elite prospect, which could set them up for long-term success.
Regarding the quarterback position, Banner raises concerns about whether Justin Fields, the quarterback selected by the Bears with the ninth overall pick, will be a better option than other quarterbacks like Bryce Young or CJ Stroud. However, he emphasizes that if Fields doesn’t work out, it will highlight just how little the Bears got in return for trading away the first overall pick.
Time will tell whether the Bears or Panthers made the right decision in this trade and whether the draft compensation received by the Bears will help them build a successful team in the long term.
By Tony Dunn
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