NFL Draft Rumors: Execs Theorize Commanders Trade Packages for Bears' No. 1 Pick | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The Chicago Bears traded the No. 1 pick ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, and speculation has started regarding potential asking prices if they were to do so again this year.

On Monday, Ben Solak of The Ringer revealed that he spoke to multiple league executives at the NFL Scouting Combine about what the asking price should be for the Bears to move back to the No. 2 pick in a trade with the Washington Commanders.

One executive said he would ask for two first-round picks and a second-rounder, while another said two first-rounders would be the starting point. "A third said he would refuse to set a price, and force the team trading up from no. 2 to start making the offer—then he'd just ask for more," Solak wrote.

Highlighting the Commanders in particular is notable, as presumed No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is from Washington, D.C. The Commanders also hired Kliff Kingsbury to be their new offensive coordinator this offseason, and he worked closely with Williams as the USC quarterbacks coach last season.

One NFL source told Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic when discussing the Bears' position that "there should be some concern that he and his father, Carl, could become infatuated with the idea of playing for the Washington Commanders as the long predraft process plays out."

That may be the case, but Williams also told ESPN's Pete Thamel he would be "excited" to play for the Bears because of their "talented offense and defense."

Chicago is an interesting case study, as it went 5-3 in the final eight games of the 2023 campaign and seemed to be building some momentum with Justin Fields under center. Continuing down that path would likely be the choice if it picked later in the draft, but last year's trade with the Panthers gave the No. 1 overall pick to the Bears.

Not only does that give them the opportunity to select a potential franchise building block in Williams, but they can also restart the quarterback contract clock ahead of Fields' fifth-year option in 2025.

Chicago decided to continue building around Fields ahead of last year's draft and landed wide receiver DJ Moore, the Nos. 9 and 61 picks in the 2023 draft, a 2024 first-rounder and a 2025 second-rounder from the Panthers for that No. 1 pick. Carolina used the choice on Alabama's Bryce Young, which may have been a mistake given CJ Stroud's immediate success as the No. 2 pick.

Trading back from No. 1 to No. 2 this year would not stop the Bears from taking another quarterback such as North Carolina's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels. After all, Stroud was the Offensive Rookie of the Year this past season as the second selection.

However, Solak noted a front-office source from around the league suggested Chicago should only move back to the second pick if it doesn't plan on taking a signal-caller because "moving back to take a franchise quarterback would send the wrong message to both that quarterback and the team."

Perhaps the Bears would use the No. 2 pick on Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., which would give them the secondary option alongside Moore they need.

There are a number of paths they can take, and they will remain under the spotlight until they choose one.