On Friday, the 2023 NFL Draft landscape underwent a seismic shift with the announcement of a major trade between the Bears and Panthers. As per reports, the Panthers have received the No. 1 overall pick from the Bears in exchange for the No. 9 overall pick, a 2024 first-round pick, two future second-round picks, and wide receiver D.J. Moore.
The trade enables the Panthers to target a potential franchise quarterback with the top pick, while the Bears can use their newfound assets to bolster the supporting cast around third-year quarterback Justin Fields. The deal is also expected to have a ripple effect across the league, with other teams either benefiting from or being adversely affected by the trade.
Here are the winners and the losers of the Bears-Panthers blockbuster, starting with the team that benefits most from it:
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Bears-Panthers trade winners
Chicago Bears
The Bears emerged as clear winners in the recent NFL draft trade. The team was expected to trade the top pick to a quarterback-needy team, but the package they received in exchange exceeded expectations. The Bears acquired two first-round picks (in 2023 and 2024) and two second-round picks (in 2024 and 2025), and now have the No. 9 overall pick in 2023 to potentially draft a top offensive tackle to help protect their quarterback, Justin Fields.
Additionally, the Bears added D.J. Moore to their roster as a true, No. 1 receiver, who has consistently produced despite poor quarterback play during his time with the Panthers. Moore will join a potentially dynamic receiving corps alongside Mooney, Kmet, and Claypool. This trade has positioned the Bears to be major players in free agency and fill a lot of needs, making them the clear winners of this deal.
Justin Fields
Fields can breathe a sigh of relief for the rest of the 2023 NFL offseason since he will not be traded. This is a great development for Fields’ growth since being traded would have meant playing under a new head coach and adapting to a different offensive system for the third time in as many NFL seasons. Such changes could have impeded his progress and impacted his future earnings.
Instead, he will continue to play under Matt Eberflus and Luke Getsy for a second season. This will give him the opportunity to make significant strides in Getsy’s offense from a mental processing perspective. Furthermore, with the acquisition of Moore, he will have a true No. 1 receiver at his disposal.
Despite having the No. 1 overall pick, the Bears made it clear that Fields would be their starter and that they would not be pursuing another quarterback. However, there was always the possibility that their stance could change as they delayed completing a trade.
This deal solidifies Fields’ position as the quarterback for the Chicago Bears, alleviating some of the pressure on him.
Carolina Panthers
Some may question whether the Panthers came out as winners in this trade, given the hefty price they paid to secure the No. 1 pick.
However, this was a move that the Panthers had to make. They have struggled to replace Cam Newton and have failed to commit to a long-term solution at quarterback, with Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield providing inconsistent results. It was time for the Panthers to invest in developing their own franchise quarterback.
The challenge was that with the No. 9 overall pick, they couldn’t be sure of securing a top-tier quarterback prospect, hence the need to trade up. This now puts them in a position not only to get the best quarterback prospect available but also to get the one they believe has the most potential. This is encouraging news for a team that has missed out on several high-profile quarterback targets in recent years.
Of course, there is always the possibility that this trade could backfire in a few years. However, if the Panthers can identify and develop a franchise quarterback from this deal, it could set them up for success for the next decade. For a team that seems to be in a perpetual rebuild, this was a risk worth taking for new coach Frank Reich and general manager Scott Fitterer.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are poised to benefit the most from this trade, albeit indirectly, as their No. 3 pick is now likely the highest available pick for trading.
With the Panthers and Texans expected to select quarterbacks with their respective top picks, it’s probable that these teams will keep their choices. Nevertheless, there are reports that the Panthers may still consider trading down even after moving up to No. 1, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals were already looking to trade down from their No. 3 spot even before the Bears made their trade. As per Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com, the Cardinals are not in the market for a quarterback since they recently signed Kyler Murray to a massive extension. With their pick now being a potential trade-up spot for a quarterback, the Cardinals seem to be in an ideal position to make a deal.
Bears-Panthers trade losers
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are in a tough spot after the Panthers’ trade up to No. 1, as three teams ahead of them in the draft order are expected to select quarterbacks in the top five: the Panthers, Texans, and Colts.
Unless the Raiders trade up to No. 3, it’s likely that only one of the projected four first-round quarterbacks will be available when they pick at No. 7 overall.
While this may not necessarily be a bad thing, as the Raiders could still find a player they like at No. 7, there’s no doubt that their quarterback options for the 2023 NFL Draft are now slimmer due to Carolina’s move. The Raiders may have to settle for a veteran stopgap option such as Jimmy Garoppolo, as opposed to a player who can be a long-term solution, which coach Josh McDaniels expressed a desire for at the NFL Combine. If they’re worried about who will be available, they could also consider attempting to move ahead of the Colts through a trade with the Cardinals.
Houston Texans
Prior to the Panthers’ trade up to the No. 1 pick, the Texans were set to have their pick of quarterbacks at No. 2. However, with Carolina now at the top of the draft order, Houston will have to wait and see which quarterback prospect falls to them.
The Texans had a chance to secure the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but their victory over the Colts in Week 18 cost them that opportunity. Former head coach Lovie Smith’s win over his former team was a bitter pill to swallow for Houston, as it likely resulted in them missing out on their top quarterback choice.
Despite this setback, the Texans may still be able to land their preferred prospect, but the uncertainty of waiting to see who will be available at No. 2 adds an extra layer of stress to their draft preparations.
Bryce Young
For most of the pre-draft period, Young was widely regarded as the top quarterback prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft. However, recent developments suggest that he may not be the first quarterback chosen.
According to The Athletic, insiders within the league believe that the Carolina Panthers traded up to the first overall pick to select Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud instead of Young. Of course, with six weeks left until the draft, there is no guarantee that Stroud will be the Panthers’ choice.
Nevertheless, these reports are likely to hurt Young’s chances of becoming the first player from Alabama to be selected as the No. 1 pick in the common draft era. This is especially significant because, as reported by Spotrac.com, the contract for the second overall pick is expected to be worth $1.85 million less than that of the first pick, which could prove costly for Young.
