In all the speculation surrounding the Chicago Bears’ first-round draft options, most support falls behind Georgia’s defensive tackle Jalen Carter or Alabama’s edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. Trading back with the Indianapolis Colts should keep both available, as both they and the Texans would draft quarterbacks leaving only the Cardinals to take Carter or Anderson.
However, as more teams enter the quarterback market in desperation— Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers— the Bears could trade the Colts’ fourth pick, stay in the top ten, and fill more gaps in the roster.
Fortunately for the Bears, the 2023 NFL Drafts is as stocked with defensive linemen as it is with quarterbacks. In any other year, Clemson’s Myles Murphy and Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson might vie for top-five selections.
Myles Murphy
Big men shouldn’t move as fast as Murphy does. At 6-foot-5, 275 pounds he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. His explosive speed shows on tape, leaving offensive tackles in the dust and opposing quarterbacks in the dirt. Murphy also demonstrates elite play recognition and patience, able to sniff out read options which are becoming more and more commonplace in the NFL.
Tyree Wilson
At 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, Wilson has the size and wingspan to collapse pockets and force fumbles in a pass rush. He more than makes up for his lack of speed (okay it’s not that bad: 4.82 40-yard dash) with reach and strength. Like a true predator, Wilson can snatch quarterbacks and ball carriers anywhere between the tackles. Double teams are essentially useless against him, and his knack for creating turnovers is game-changing.
Both Carter and Anderson are special, as we’ve covered extensively in the past, but for a team with several needs, a double-trade-back including a player like Murphy or Wilson would be a masterclass in team building.
Get more updates on the Chicago Bears and the Draft by following @BearsNationCHI on Twitter.
The post Chicago’s Double-Trade-Back: How and Why appeared first on Chicago Sports Nation.