Hypothetical Trades Bears Must Consider in 2024 NFL Offseason

The Chicago Bears have the potential to be the busiest team during the NFL offseason.

The Bears will certainly be the most popular franchise in trade talks since they will likely possess the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft by way of the Carolina Panthers.

Any offseason decision will be dictated by Chicago's decision with Justin Fields.

The Bears need to figure out over the final few weeks of the regular season if Fields will be their franchise quarterback moving forward.

If Fields is here to stay, the Bears can be more aggressive in the trade market to bring in help around him.

If not, the Bears have to reset their roster on the fly and will not be able to move the No. 1 pick because that must be used on Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.

Trade Down from No. 1 Pick

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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 09: Montez Sweat #98 of the Chicago Bears rushes the passer during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field on November 9, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

The Bears should generate a ton of interest from quarterback-hungry teams if they believe Fields is the quarterback of the future.

Chicago is in pole position to sit atop the draft order thanks to the Carolina Panthers' futility.

Last year's pre-draft trade brought D.J. Moore to the Bears and allowed them to be in this position in the 2024 draft because the Panthers desperately wanted Bryce Young.

Poles can take advantage of another franchise's need for Williams or Maye and maneuver that into another star player on the roster, or a hefty haul of draft picks.

The Bears would then be able to stack their roster around Fields with potentially two or three first-round picks, or at least a stockpile in the first few rounds.

Chicago is still set to pick at No. 5 with its own draft pick, so it may be willing to drop a few spots in the deal for No. 1 with knowledge that it can still land a top-five talent.

Deal Justin Fields to Seattle or Tampa Bay

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 10: Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears runs the ball during the first quarter in the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on December 10, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

If the Bears decide the No. 1 pick should be used on a quarterback, they need to find a trade partner for Fields.

The trade market for Fields will likely be teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers who were good enough to contend in 2023 but do not have high draft picks to overhaul their quarterback depth chart.

Seattle might feel comfortable with Drew Lock taking over for Geno Smith, but that will be decided by how he plays, if he plays, over the next few weeks.

Baker Mayfield is a good one-year fill-in for the Bucs. but he is not going to be under center for the long-term future.

Mayfield winning the starting job over Kyle Trask out of training camp might signal that the Bucs do not view Trask as a starting-caliber player.

Chicago needs to get a few draft picks back for Fields and it might be able to steal a second-rounder away from Tampa Bay.

Seattle has two third-round selections it could potential part with, but a second-rounder carries more value on its own for Chicago's roster-building process.

Trading Fields within the NFC may not be the best idea, but there are not many situations in the AFC where he would fit at the moment.

Make Deal with Washington for Jahan Dotson

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 23: Jahan Dotson #1 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after a play during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Chicago needs one or two more explosive playmakers on offense to support whomever starts at quarterback in 2024.

The Bears will not be in the market for a No. 1 wide receiver or tight end since they have that in place with D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet.

They need to find supporting pieces, potentially on the trade market, and Jahan Dotson fits that mold.

Dotson has two years remaining on his rookie contract with the Washington Commanders, who are likely undergoing a roster overhaul this offseason.

Dotson has the third-most receiving yards on the Washington roster behind Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel.

Samuel has taken over as the No. 2 target of Sam Howell, while Dotson is viewed as a more of a big-play threat.

Chicago could use Dotson's explosiveness down the field to complement Moore and Kmet in the passing game.

The Bears may not be willing to part ways with any of their draft picks, but they could send a Day 3 pick to Washington to make an acquisition that helps their roster and allows the Commanders more draft flexibility in their rebuilding process.