Reports: Chicago Bears trade No. 1 overall pick to Carolina Panthers

After weeks of speculation, the Chicago Bears have officially traded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Reports surfaced Friday afternoon that the Bears would be trading the pick to the Carolina Panthers for a haul of draft capital, and wide receiver DJ Moore to help develop quarterback Justin Fields. The terms of the deal are as followed: Chicago receives picks 9 and 61 in the 2023 draft, a first-round pick in 2024, a second-round pick in 2025, and DJ Moore for the No. 1 overall pick next month.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first with the news.

Compensation update, per sources: Bears trading No. 1 overall pick to Carolina for:

🏈pick No. 9
🏈pick No. 61
🏈a first-round pick in 2024
🏈a second-round pick in 2025
🏈WR DJ Moore pic.twitter.com/hHrHn1UIR2

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2023

Since falling into the No. 1 pick at the end of the 2022 regular season, the Bears have been destined to trade out of the pick. Already developing a young QB prospect in Fields, Chicago has holes to fill across the board for the team, including at wide receiver. By adding Moore, Fields now has a reliable No.1 option to throw to long-term. Adding additional draft capital also allows Chicago to develop further in the 2023 draft.

On the flip side, this move signals a major shakeup in Carolina, hoping to land their QB of the next decade in a talented class. Headlined by Alabama’s Bryce Young, new head coach Frank Reich & the front office have options this year with the pick, knowing full well that they can’t afford to whiff in April.

From our breaking news segment on @NFLNetwork: A massive draft trade, as the #Panthers are now on the clock. Carolina gets the No. 1 pick. pic.twitter.com/6MicEWHgdE

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2023

A move that will have ramifications for years to come, but one that both franchises must feel good about.

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