Bears Exchange Pitch Gets Team ‘Elite’ Wide Receiver, Generational Talent

The Chicago Bears don’t need to pick a wide receiver in the top 10, but they have the resources to move up a few spots in the NFL draft and get a potentially exceptional player.

Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron wrote on Wednesday, March 26 about the chance of Chicago trading up from the No. 9 pick to acquire wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Ohio State Buckeyes.

“At what point would you consider trading up for Marvin Harrison Jr. if you’re the #Bears?” Infante wrote. “I still think he’s drafted as WR1, but let’s say the Cardinals go [Malik] Nabers and the Chargers trade down with a team for [J.J.] McCarthy. Would you give up capital to get MHJ or wait for [Rome] Odunze?”

Some NFL Teams Prefer Malik Nabers Over Marvin Harrison Jr., Which May Create Opportunity for Bears

GettyWide receiver Malik Nabers of the LSU Tigers.

Infante’s idea that the Bears should move up for a talent like Harrison is actually possible on several levels.

The Cardinals and the Chargers both have a significant need for a receiver, but if the New England Patriots remain at No. 3, one of those two teams can get a substantial offer from a team like the Minnesota Vikings eager to trade into the top-5 for a QB.

Trading up to No. 5 doesn’t ensure the Vikings a top-four QB prospect, so offering Arizona a lot is a better option for a team trying to draft McCarthy, or whichever quarterback remains in that spot.

This opens up the possibility of Harrison being available at No. 5 through a trade with the Chargers. Alternatively, if Los Angeles stays put and picks a wide receiver, the New York Giants‘ 6th overall pick could be in play.

It wouldn’t necessarily matter if the Chargers decided to draft Harrison themselves, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated that multiple organizations actually believe Nabers is the better prospect after he recorded a 42-inch vertical leap and ran a sub 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the LSU pro day on Wednesday.

“Some NFL personnel think Malik Nabers is the top wideout in this draft class,” Schefter stated.

Bears Could Possibly Trade With 3 Teams and Acquire Marvin Harrison Jr.

GettyWide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Giants are a surprise contender to move up a few spots for a QB but are likely to consider a receiver if they keep the sixth pick. However, they also have many needs, and the Bears could propose a deal that might interest the Giants.

Chicago has the No. 9 overall pick, which should attract a team like the New Orleans Saints. Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus authored a trade pitch suggested on Wednesday, that the Bears trade pick Nos. 9 and 75 to the Saints for pick Nos. 14, 45 and 168.

If Chicago made that deal, or a similar one, the Bears could then offer the 14th and 45th overall selections to the Giants for pick No. 6, the Chargers for pick No. 5 or the Cardinals for pick No. 4.

Assuming that either the Cardinals or Chargers will trade out of their current position to a team looking for a quarterback, that leaves two receiver-needy teams selecting between picks 4-6. If the Bears can persuade one of those teams to take pick Nos. 14 and 45, Chicago essentially ensures itself Harrison or Nabers, and could potentially have its pick of the two.

Bears may want to consider trading up for Marvin Harrison Jr. or Malik Nabers

GettyWide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

That’s a lot of effort and significant resources to give up if Odunze is available for the Bears at No. 9. However, it's not certain that he will be.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. made a prediction in his latest mock draft that Harrison, Nabers and Odunze will be chosen in three consecutive picks between 4-6, going to the Cardinals, Chargers, and Giants. Kiper’s mock draft assumes players will be selected by teams in their current draft positions, so it doesn’t consider potential trades.

The 2024 class has top talent at the receiver position that will be pursued by many teams. The Bears recently traded a fourth-round pick to the Chargers for Keenan Allen, but the thought of pairing quarterback Caleb Williams with a receiver like Harrison might be too irresistible for Chicago to ignore.

At the very least, the Bears should make a few calls and assess the possibilities.