According to NFL Network’s insiders, an NFC team is considered a strong candidate to trade up for the first overall pick.
As reported by Mike Garafolo, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Washington Commanders are being viewed as a potential trade-up team to secure the No. 1 pick from the Chicago Bears.
Other teams around the league believe that the Commanders, under new GM Adam Peters, may trade up to No. 1 with the intention of pairing offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury with Caleb Williams. The Commanders are expected to explore trade possibilities with the Bears for the top pick. If a trade doesn’t materialize, the Commanders may look at other options for the No. 2 pick, including quarterbacks Drake Maye from North Carolina or Jayden Daniels from LSU, or consider selecting a position player and pursuing a veteran like Fields.
The Bears currently hold the first overall pick after acquiring it from the Carolina Panthers as part of a previous trade involving Bryce Young.
While some argue that Chicago GM Ryan Poles should build around current quarterback Justin Fields and trade the No. 1 pick, Rapoport revealed that the Bears would require “historic” compensation for such a trade.
Rapoport also indicated that the Bears are likely to use their top pick on a quarterback, with USC’s Caleb Williams being the presumed choice. In this scenario, the Washington Commanders would likely select North Carolina’s Drake Maye with the No. 2 pick.
