In surprising fashion, the Chicago Bears secured the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after the Houston Texans had a miraculous comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts on the final day of the 2022 season. At the time, everybody was expecting the Bears to trade out of the first pick—and they did. In a blockbuster deal, the Carolina Panthers moved up from the ninth spot to select quarterback Bryce Young with the first overall pick. Now, as the Bears prepare to face the Panthers, Young finds himself on the bench, with both franchises heading in different directions.
Bears vs. Panthers: A Testament to the Infamous Trade
Revisiting the Bears-Panthers Trade Details
Here’s a full breakdown of the blockbuster trade between the Bears and Panthers:
Panthers Receive:
- 2023 first-round pick (No. 1 overall)
Bears Receive:
- WR D.J. Moore
- 2023 first-round pick (No. 9 overall)
- 2023 second-round pick (No. 61 overall)
- 2024 first-round pick (No. 1 overall)
- 2025 second-round pick
The Bears were gifted with a treasure trove of draft capital which has changed the trajectory of the franchise. With those picks, the Bears drafted starting right tackle Darnell Wright, starting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, starting quarterback, and the No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, punter Tory Taylor, and still have that 2025 second-round pick. All these players are massive contributors to the team and are cornerstones that will likely be in a Bears uniform for a long time. For the Panthers, it’s a different story with Young.
Panthers Mishap Might Not Be on the Quarterback
Bryce Young being benched two weeks in the season in only his second year in the NFL seems like a huge mistake. Young possesses the arm talent, mobility, and football IQ that teams covet in a quarterback. Yet, it’s baffling to see an NFL franchise seemingly give up on their No. 1 overall pick.
Veteran receiver Adam Thielen doesn’t believe Young is the issue either, stating, “This isn’t a Bryce Young issue,” which reflects the sentiment in the locker room. Adding to the confusion, Andy Dalton, who replaced Young, has played well, even leading the Panthers to a win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3. So, is Young really the problem? Maybe—but it doesn’t change the fact that the Panthers failed to support him.
Personally, the Panthers have deeper issues than just their quarterback. They lack foundational players, having traded away core players like Christian McCaffrey, Brian Burns, and D.J. Moore all during their prime. Drafting another quarterback with their 2025 first-round pick won’t fix the team either. Honestly, the real issue in Carolina may be General Manager David Tepper. He’s breathing down the necks of the entire organization, and there’s no one to stop him. It’s a tough situation for the Panthers, but there’s still a glimmer of hope that they can turn things around.
Outcome of the Bears Panthers Trade
During a recent press conference, Head Coach Matt Eberflus reflected on the Bears’ trade with the Panthers, saying:
“It’s really remarkable when you think about it, how it all fell together like that. A lot of that’s luck, I mean a lot of that you can’t predict. But it’s also putting yourself in position. Ryan Poles and his staff did a great job of that. There’s a couple players that we could’ve been going for at the time and I’m sure glad we got DJ. It worked out well. We’ve just gotta keep working and getting better as a football team.”
Sunday’s game against in Chicago will surely sting a little for Panthers fans. Regardless of whether the Panthers win or lose, seeing the Bears have multiple foundational pieces as a result of a trade that the Panthers regret will hurt. But it’s not a total fleece for the Bears.
The real challenge lies in whether the Bears can finally unlock Caleb Williams’ potential. So far, the team hasn’t done the best job of developing him, and they risk a situation similar to Bryce Young’s struggles in Carolina. It feels like the Bears are “handcuffing” Williams, focusing too much on avoiding turnovers rather than letting him fully showcase why he was chosen No. 1 overall. Unfortunately, that’s not likely to change. Eberflus is coaching to save his job, and to do that, the Bears need to win games. For Eberflus, turning Williams into a game manager might seem like the safest option, but it’s holding both Williams and the team back.
It was a historic trade between two teams who were searching for their franchise quarterback. One missed the mark, and one is still figuring out how to develop theirs.
Main Image: Bob Donnan – USA Today Sports
