Regarding the Bears-Panthers trade that included DJ Moore, the top choice,
It’s time to review and evaluate the Bears vs. Panthers exchange involving DJ Moore and the pick that eventually became Bryce Young.
This past offseason, the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers pulled off a big transaction before of the 2023 NFL campaign. In return for the top overall pick, Carolina gave up wide receiver DJ Moore, the ninth overall pick, the 61st overall pick, a 2024 first-round selection, and a 2025 second-round selection.
As both teams bolstered their young rosters, this move changed them. Having said that, let’s evaluate the Bears-Panthers trade that included DJ Moore and the first overall pick.
Bears: A
The Bears were extremely successful at leveraging the value of having the first overall pick. Chicago felt secure enough to trade the pick for extra draught money and star wide receiver Moore, even with Justin Fields starting at quarterback.
Fields may or may not be the starting quarterback for the team, but this deal was still very worthwhile. As the Bears’ main weapon, Moore has been successful this season, catching 47 passes for 735 yards and five touchdowns through nine weeks. He has been the explosive receiver Chicago’s offence has been missing.
Chicago subsequently traded down to the 10th pick in this deal, selecting offensive tackle Darnell Wright, using the ninth overall pick. Although Wright is still a developing player, in the long run, he will be a key member of the Bears offensive line.
Then, Chicago traded up to the 56th pick with the 61st pick, selecting defensive back Tyrique Stevenson. Another young athlete who requires more time to mature before receiving a proper rating is Stevenson. He should help the Bears secondary get better.
Acquiring the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick was a crucial component of this transaction. Due to Carolina’s poor performance this year, this pick would be selected with the second overall pick in the draught. For Chicago, this is a very crucial asset as they try to bolster their roster. If they determine Fields is not the solution, they might select a quarterback in this slot through the draught.
Carolina’s 2025 second-round selection, who might develop into a talented young player, will also go to the Bears.
Although the players’ progress will be crucial in this trade, Chicago emerged victorious in the current scenario. They added draught capital in the form of young talent and signed a quality wide receiver to bolster their offensive line. The Bears’ future as a team will largely depend on how they utilise the Panthers’ 2024 first-round selection.
Panthers: D+
The Panthers’ initial impression of this trade is not favourable. By giving up a tonne of assets in exchange for the first overall pick to choose a franchise quarterback, they took a chance. Bryce Young, who Carolina chose with the first choice, hasn’t had much luck thus far. After just nine weeks, everyone ought to give Young more time to mature. But as things stand, it appears like the Panthers selected the wrong player in the draught. If the Panthers had selected CJ Stroud rather of Young, this deal would have appeared to be much more advantageous for the Houston Texans, who have been playing fantastic football.
Young has passed 1,375 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions on 63.9 percent of his passes. However, Stroud has only thrown one interception while completing 62 percent of his throws for 2,270 yards and 14 touchdowns.
After giving up a lot to get the first pick, Carolina appears to have made the incorrect quarterback selection as of the first nine weeks of the season. Even though Young still has a lot of time to develop, the Panthers made a huge mistake with this transaction.
Carolina chose a quarterback who has failed, giving up their best receiver and several draught picks in the process. Although Young needs time to mature, fans should exercise patience when evaluating this move; the Bears seem to have benefited greatly from it.
