Except for something unexpected, the 2025 NFL Draft closes the book with one of the big deals of recent memory.
In the construction of the 2023 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers The first team ran a deal that included the first choice that opened the door to select a quarterback at the No. 1 spot. The Carolina were able to do it during the 2023 NFL Draft, and as a result of the trade, the Bears were able to do the same a year later.
Now that the circle is closed, let’s run the full details of the deal between these two teams from 2023.
What were the conditions for the Bears Panthers trade in 2023?
The Bears finished their regular season in 2022 with a 3-14 record. This gave him the right to his first choice in the 2023 NFL Draft.
However, as Justin Fields has established itself as the team’s starting quarterback, speculation that the Bears could trade from their first choice began almost immediately given the number of teams that need to deal with their quarterback position.
In March 2023, the Bears made speculation a reality. Chicago has signed a deal with the Panthers. The Panthers allowed Carolina to approach No. 1, and the bear came back with the ninth place.
From the time this was announced, it is the perfect condition for that transaction.
The bear will receive it
2023 First Round Pick (Overall No. 9)
2023 2nd pick (61st overall)
2024 First Round Pick
2025 Round 2 Pick
WR DJ Moore
Panther receives
2023 First Round Pick (Overall Ranked 1st)
What did the Panthers change trade?
This is the simple part.
Carolina selected quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft and selected Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young from Alabama.
Young’s rookie season saw mixed returns, and Young was on the bench early in the 2024 season, while Alabama products closed the 2024 season at high notes. There is hope that his second season under Dave Canales will be able to see him grow into a franchise quarterback.
Panthers trade transport:
- QB Bryce Young (1st pick in 2023)
What did the bears change the trade?
As mentioned above, Chicago received wide receiver DJ Moore as part of the deal. Moore caught 96 passes for 96 yards and eight touchdowns during his first season in Chicago, and caught another 98 passes for 966 yards and six touchdowns last season.
The second round pick the team acquired in the 2023 draft? Chicago packaged it with the fifth pick Jacksonville Jaguardrafting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson from Miami, moving five spots to No. 56 in the second round. Stevenson began 30 games in Chicago over two seasons, snatching four intercepts during his rookie campaign.
Regarding the first round picks of 2024, what did the Bears receive as part of this deal? This is where things get appealing. Chicago began the 2023 season, hosting two picks in the first round, between their own first round picks and Carolina rights, but Justinfield started quarterback.
While hope was on the field, the bear demonstrated that it was enough to move him forward as their starting quarterback, allowing them to continue building around him using draft capital. Fields started all 13 games, completing 61.4% of passes for 2,562 yards, along with a passerby rating of 16 TDs, 9 intercepts and 86.3. But it wasn’t enough to convince Chicago’s brass that the job was him. In March 2024, the team gave him the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, the 2024 NFL Draft also owned the rights to the first choice.
Thank you to the Panthers.
Carolina’s 2-15 record was the worst in the league, giving the Bears a first-place selection. Chicago’s own pick in the first round was ninth.
What did the bear do with the first round pick from Carolina? They drafted quarterback Caleb Williams from USC.
However, one pick is better from this deal. This is the 2025 second round pick that the Panthers sent to Chicago as part of the deal.
That pick was 39th overall, and the Bears made it on Friday night. Chicago chose Load III for Missouri wide receiver Luther.
Bear trade transport:
- Rt Darnell Wright, 2023’s No. 10 pick
- CB Tyrique Stevenson, 2023 61 Picks
- QB Caleb Williams, No. 1 pick of 2024
- WR Luther Burden III, No. 39Pick in 2025
- WR DJ Moore
Chicago also scored a pick that moved from 10th to 9th in a tradedown with the Eagles and became punter Tory Taylor.
