The Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers have turned the 2023 NFL Draft on its head. In a massive trade, the Panthers have moved up to the No. 1 spot. In return, the Bears have gained some major draft capital and a talented wide receiver.

In exchange for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Bears received DJ Moore, the No. 9 and No. 61 picks in this year’s draft, a first-round pick in 2024

What they gave 

While it was just one pick, the Bears gave up the most valuable asset in the entire NFL Draft. General Manager Ryan Poles will be tied to this trade for the remainder of his tenure with Chicago. The Panthers gave up much, much more. But they clearly see the value in this year’s top QBs.

For the Bears, the decision came down to Fields. If Chicago was committed to him, they could surpass a quarterback with the No. 1 pick. With them committed, they were able to sell the top overall pick to the highest bidder. Going from No. 1 to No. 9 is a bit of a fall, but Chicago will still land a top-10 prospect.

Carolina mortgaged their future for this pick. They are now counting on their quarterback selection to be a star. The Panthers won’t have their first-round draft pick next year because of this deal. The Panthers cannot afford for their quarterback selection to fail.

and a second-round pick in 2025, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In moving down the board, Chicago gains value in the present and future. Carolina gets their QB of the future.

Going into the draft, the Bears knew they had numerous holes to fill. With Justin Fields already on the roster, the No. 1 overall pick became a vital asset. With the Panthers in desperate need of a quarterback, moving up to No. 1 gives them their pick of anyone in the draft. This year, Carolina is likely choosing between Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud.

Both the Bears and Panthers have taken massive gambles for the future of their franchises. How do both teams grade out after their crazy 2023 NFL Draft trade?