The Denver Broncos may try to move up in the NFL Draft in order to take a quarterback, and the Chicago Bears own the No. 1 overall pick.
Could the Broncos and Bears match up on a trade?
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell thinks so.
Barnwell proposes that the Broncos send cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the 12th overall pick, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2025 third-rounder to the Bears in exchange for the top selection in April.
Denver could then potentially use that pick to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams to replace Russell Wilson and lead the franchise going forward.
The Bears already seem to be planning on re-signing cornerback Jaylon Johnson this offseason, so if they are able to snatch Surtain from the Broncos, they would then have what would probably represent the best duo of corners in football.
But would Chicago feel comfortable having two cornerbacks take up that much salary?
Barnwell thinks that head coach Matt Eberflus could make it work.
“Chicago might also not want to pay two cornerbacks as much as Surtain and Jaylon Johnson will combine to get on their next contracts, but if Eberflus wants to field the NFL’s best defense, getting a top-three cornerback isn’t going to hurt,” Barnwell wrote.
Denver is expected to cut Wilson this offseason, so the fact that it is already thinking about what to do under center should not come as too much of a surprise.
Surtain’s name has also been floated in trade rumors since early in the season, but the Broncos ultimately held on to him past the Oct. 31 deadline. The 23-year-old is entering the final year of his deal, so if Denver does not want to pay him long term, now would be a good time to move him. Especially if it means the Broncos can nab their franchise quarterback in the process.
On top of all of that, Cecil Lammey of DenverSports.com has reported that many believe Broncos head coach Sean Payton has “something cooking” for the early portion of the NFL Draft.
This is certainly a situation to monitor as the offseason gets underway.
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