A lot can happen during the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Chicago Bears could make a move few would expect.
The Bears, despite having some serious needs, have eight players that rank in the top 11 at their position by 2026 cap hit. There are going to be some tough decisions that general manager Ryan Poles needs to make this offseason, and that isn’t just limited to what’s currently on the roster.
In the first round, the Bears have the 25th pick. That’s unfamiliar territory for a team that’s picked in the top 10 over the last decade. But what if the Bears don’t stay at 25?
Harrison Graham of Chat Sports floated the idea of the Bears trading up to draft star safety Caleb Downs in Round 1 if he fell outside the top 10.
Bears Receive Intriguing Caleb Downs Trade Take
Graham went into detail on what a trade for Downs would look like, the projected trade price, and the steps the Bears would have to take before the draft to pull it off.
“The idea of trading up for Caleb Downs if he falls enough in the draft. I think if he falls outside the top 10, I’m calling Miami and I’m seeing, because I look at the Dolphins and they are going to have a lot of needs. They’re going to enter a rebuild in all likelihood. What would it take to go from 25 to 11. Probably your first next year. So do you do that for a safety. Well if you think he’s Ed Reed you do. Part of the equation too is like okay, have you addressed pass rush in free agency at this point? Cause you’re gonna give up draft capital for a non pass rusher.”
There’s no doubt that Downs is an incredible prospect, and ESPN’s draft analyst Matt Miller believes he’s the only safety worth taking in the first round.
“If you could create the ideal safety prospect, it would look like Downs. The 6-foot, 205-pound junior is an elite open-field tackler with the closing speed to run down ball carriers and dominate angles in space. Downs can do it all, often lining up in multiple assignments depending on where the defense needs him. His four interceptions the past two seasons speak to his ball skills but also to the fact that offenses avoid him.”
But is making a move of this caliber the right decision for the Bears?
If he falls outside the Top 10, I start to get interested.
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The Drawbacks of Trading Up for Downs
It’s always fun to see a team trade up for a big-time prospect, but it rarely pans out in the long run. Despite how good of a prospect Downs is, he doesn’t play a premium position.
It’s better for the Bears, if anything, to accumulate more draft capital than lose their first-round pick in 2027. Chicago has a need at left tackle, defensive tackle, and edge rusher, which all are premium positions.
Free agency isn’t going to solve all these issues, and despite the Bears likely needing a safety with Kevin Byard or Jaquan Brisker departing in free agency, it’s hard to see Poles making a bold move like this to draft a safety.
It’s tempting because of how dominant Downs is, but this trade scenario is not the best option for the team.
Bears Receive Intriguing Caleb Downs Trade Take