Chicago, IL – January 8th, 2023 looked like just another Sunday to the casual Bears fan, but it became the most important date in franchise history. The day the Bears suited up against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18 would forever alter their future. Heading into that matchup, the Bears were 3-13, leaning on veteran Nathan Peterman to fill in for the injured Justin Fields.
A season plagued by inconsistency and injuries was coming to an end, and the Bears fell 29-13. Season over, right? Not quite. The Bears entered the week holding the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, with only one path to move up to No. 1: lose to Minnesota and hope the 2-13-1 Houston Texans, led by former Bears coach Lovie Smith, upset the Indianapolis Colts. With both games kicking off at 1:00 PM EST, Bears fans anxiously watched.
After Chicago’s loss wrapped up, all eyes turned to the Colts-Texans game. Heading into the fourth quarter, Houston led 24-21. The Colts stormed back, scoring a touchdown and adding a field goal with 3:33 left to go up 31-24. Then the 2-win Texans pulled off the unthinkable. Lovie Smith, who had coached the Bears for eight seasons (81-63 in the regular season, 3-3 in the playoffs), gave his former team the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
That set up a franchise-altering decision for Chicago: keep faith in the developing Justin Fields, or draft a new quarterback. The Carolina Panthers, coming off a 7-10 season split between Sam Darnold and PJ Walker, needed a reset and were desperate for a quarterback. Meanwhile, an emerging college star in Los Angeles was making the 2024 draft look very appealing. After evaluating their options, Chicago made the call.
Two days later, GM Ryan Poles and the Bears shocked the NFL.
The Trade on Paper
Chicago Bears Receive:
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WR DJ Moore
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Carolina’s 2023 9th overall pick
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Carolina’s 2023 61st overall pick
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Carolina’s 2024 1st Round pick (No. 1 overall)
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Carolina’s 2025 2nd Round pick (39th pick)
Carolina Panthers Receive:
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Chicago’s 2023 1st overall pick
The Finalized Trade
Chicago Bears Receive:
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WR DJ Moore
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OT Darnell Wright (’23 10th pick, via PHI)
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CB Tyrique Stevenson (’23 61st pick, via CAR)
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QB Caleb Williams (’24 1st pick, via CAR)
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P Tory Taylor (’24 122nd pick, via PHI)
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WR Luther Burden III (’25 39th pick, via CAR)
Carolina Panthers Receive:
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QB Bryce Young (’23 1st pick, via CHI)
Photo Cred: Alabama Athletic
Chicago Bears Draft Aftermath & Grade
Pre-Draft Grade: B+
The Bears walked away with a haul bigger than anyone expected. After the 2023 season, they traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round pick and selected USC phenom Caleb Williams first overall. Because of one gutsy Texans win, Chicago ultimately secured six potential starters. Williams has opened his career with one of the best statistical starts ever for a No. 1 pick quarterback.
Photo Cred: Chicago Bears
DJ Moore nearly hit 1,000 yards with six touchdowns in his first season alongside him. Darnell Wright solidified the offensive line, Stevenson proved serviceable as a rotational corner, and Tory Taylor immediately started at punter. The Bears’ young core, once nonexistent, now looks like one of the best in football. With Ben Johnson replacing Matt Eberflus, Chicago has started the 2025 season 2-2 and looks poised for long-term relevance.
Post-Draft Grade: A
Carolina Panthers Draft Aftermath & Grade
Pre-Draft Grade: C
At the time, the trade made sense for Carolina. They needed a franchise quarterback and a fresh start after five straight losing seasons. Bryce Young seemed like a can’t-miss option. But issues quickly surfaced.
The Panthers started 1-10 under Frank Reich in 2023, leading to his midseason firing. Their offensive line crumbled, leaving Young with no protection. RB Miles Sanders struggled compared to his Philadelphia days, and their top receiving option was 33-year-old Adam Thielen. While the intent was sound—reset the culture with a new face of the franchise—the execution faltered. Carolina began a rebuild, but unlike the Bears, their immediate turnaround never came.
Post-Draft Grade: B-
Final Thoughts
In the end, both franchises made logical decisions based on where they stood. The Bears pulled off a franchise-defining trade that rebuilt their offense and gave them a true identity. The Panthers gambled on a reset, but their struggles showed that drafting a quarterback alone doesn’t fix a broken roster.
Neither team is a Super Bowl contender yet, but both proved they are willing to take bold swings in pursuit of a Lombardi Trophy.
Good insights. Bears have assembled some good players. Now is the time to string together some wins. Thanks for posting.