Reports: Bears trading No. 1 overall draft pick to Panthers

Reports: Bears trading No. 1 overall draft pick to Panthers

The Chicago Bears are trading the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft to the Carolina Panthers for a package including multiple first-round picks, according to multiple reports.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears will receive this year’s No. 9 overall pick, the No. 61 overall pick in the second round, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick and wide receiver DJ Moore.

Carolina now has the No. 1 overall pick and presumably will take a quarterback, with Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud the top candidates. The Panthers started three different quarterbacks in 2022, with none among Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and PJ Walker particularly impressive.

Chicago appears set to go with third-year pro Justin Fields as its long-term quarterback. The Bears previously traded away their 2023 second-round pick (No. 33 overall) to Pittsburgh for wide receiver Chase Claypool.

Moore was the Panthers’ leading receiver last season with 63 catches for 888 yards and seven touchdowns. In five seasons, the former Maryland star has 364 receptions for 5,201 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The 2023 NFL draft takes place April 27-29 in Kansas City.