Could Chicago Trade For A First Round Pick?

By this time, everyone knows that Chicago will be without a first or second round pick in this spring's NFL Draft, having spent them on Jay Cutler and Gaines Adams, respectively.

Obviously, this is a roadblock for a team that is simultaneously in rebuilding mode and trying to win now. In the likely event that a new CBA is not reached soon, many unrestricted free agents will suddenly become restricted, further restricting Chicago's options.

That basically leaves one avenue for immediate improvement, trades. Unfortunately, the Bears don't have many blue-chip players or promising youngsters to dangle as bait. Would anyone really want Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, or Devin Hester? Would we even be willing to part with them?

Probably not.

There is, however, one way in which Chicago could re-enter the first round of the 2010 draft in the hopes of landing an impact player. Trade our 2011 first rounder.

Now, I know this is bound to be an unpopular suggestion. It's also highly unlikely to happen, as GM Jerry Angelo is notoriously non-aggressive on draft day. Still, with Angelo and Lovie Smith on a hot seat for two, they might just be desperate enough to pull this trigger.

Could it work?

Two clubs have multiple picks in the first round, Seattle and San Francisco. Some teams could be wary of giving a player first round money with a potential lockout just around the corner in 2011. Others just like to stockpile future assets.

How attractive is Chicago's 2011 pick? Well, a schedule that includes contests against the NFC East and AFC East looks absolutely brutal on paper. Add to that Lovie Smith's "lame duck" status, a roster full of injury-prone veterans, and a division that saw two rival teams perform well in the playoffs...

It's not unreasonable to think that the Bears might have a top 10 pick next year.

Again, this is not a move that I expect to happen. Even if Jerry and Lovie were both on board, it would be a tough sell for the McCaskey family, who are probably too busy wondering how to lowball Bill Cowher next summer. Regardless, here a few teams that might be interested.

• Seattle at #14. Pete Carroll has a healthy window for rebuilding this franchise, so he might be willing to delay the process to gamble for a high Chicago pick next season.
• San Francisco at #17. Mike Singletary has obvious ties to the Bears, but Kurt Warner's retirement means the NFC West is up for grabs. Still, if there isn't a player that looks ready to contribute, why not wait until next year?
• New England at #22. Bill Belichick is shrewd. The only thing he loves more than stockpiling draft picks is taking advantage of drowning front offices.
• Dallas at #27. Dallas has never been afraid to deal on draft day. There also aren't many glaring holes on this roster that need an immediate first round fix.

Of these scenarios, I would say Seattle is the "least unlikely," as it works for both teams. I doubt Chicago would agree to mortgage their future (again) for a pick in the 20's unless a player they really coveted somehow fell to that spot.

I won't bother going through every prospect in whom Chicago might be interested, mainly because there are literally a dozen players at four or five positions who could fit that bill.

Ok, I'll throw out a few names: Eric Berry, Joe Haden, Bruce Campbell, Derrick Morgan, Earl Thomas.

Desperate times invariably call for desperate measures. How desperate are Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith? I guess we won't know until draft day.