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10 wild NFL trades that could down down during free agency frenzy

By Sayre Bedinger

NFL trade rumors: Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
NFL trade rumors: Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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NFL trades: Brian Burns #53 of the Carolina Panthers lines up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

7. Brian Burns to the Chicago Bears in a package for the #1 pick

The Chicago Bears seem poised to trade the no. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the highest bidder. If you weren’t watching NFL Network’s coverage of the 2023 Scouting Combine, you may have missed some of the rumblings from top reporter Ian Rapoport, who intimated that a trade for the no. 1 overall pick could get done before free agency due to the fact that it might involve a player going back to the Bears.

Who could that player be?

Given the fact that the Bears have the leverage to have their cake and eat it too, in this situation, it makes sense that they would be going after a trade with another team in the top 10 overall picks, and it makes sense that they would be going after a cornerstone type of player in return for the top overall pick.

If the price to acquire the top overall pick from the Bears is at least three first-round picks, then pass rusher Brian Burns from the Panthers might be worth two of them. The Panthers allegedly turned down offers of multiple future first-round picks for Burns last year, so we know his value to them is high. Burns won’t turn 25 until April. He’s been one of the most effective pass rushers in the league for the last four years.

The Panthers need a quarterback, however, and sometimes there is a hefty price to pay to get one. Brian Burns is the type of trade piece that could get Carolina into the no. 1 overall slot without paying the Bears upwards of three future first-round picks, or the equivalent value.

Here’s a deal I could see going down:

Panthers get:

  • 1st overall pick
  • 134th pick

Bears get:

  • EDGE Brian Burns
  • 9th overall pick
  • 40th pick
  • 2024 2nd-round pick
  • 2025 3rd-round pick

Bears fans may have their sights set on much more NFL Draft capital than this, but Brian Burns would be a true cornerstone piece for that defense under head coach Matt Eberflus. A true game-changer at a key position. That 9th pick could then be used on someone like Paris Johnson Jr. out of Ohio State, with the 40th overall pick in place to recoup the asset the Bears traded to acquire Chase Claypool.

We already know the Bears will be hugely active in NFL Free Agency and money is going to be flying out of that front office in Chicago, but perhaps their biggest move of the 2023 offseason will be getting Burns on a long-term deal after trading the top pick to the Panthers, who could then select Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, or whoever their hearts desire.

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