Panthers acquire 2023 NFL Draft #1 pick from Bears

The Chicago Bears have decided what to do with the 2023 NFL Draft pick. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Chicago will trade back eight spots and acquire additional draft capital, while the Carolina Panthers will jump to the top of the draft and pick ahead of everyone else.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter added everything Chicago will get back in exchange, including multiple first- and second-round picks, along with wide receiver DJ Moore, who should give Bears quarterback Justin Fields the No. 1 pass catcher sort , which he lacked during his first two seasons.

Rapoport noted that the assumption is Carolina, who hired Frank Reich as head coach earlier this offseason, will step up to pick a quarterback. While there’s no word on who they’re targeting right now, the four names considered top prospects in this draft are Kentucky’s Will Levis, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young. The Panthers finished last season 7-10, just missing out on going into the postseason.

Chicago, meanwhile, are probably banking on Fields being the quarterback to guide them into the future, but if they decide to go ahead they have plenty of draft picks to win a big-name goal. Regardless, Moore should get plenty of targets for anyone lining up under center — last season the former first-round pick staggered 63 balls for 888 yards and seven touchdowns.