It’s difficult to imagine a scenario in the draft this year in which the Chicago Bears would trade up, but if they did, who would they be looking to add?
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport thinks the team’s current situation at safety might make general manager Ryan Poles and company consider making a move up for Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
Davenport put together several draft-day trade proposals, and in one, he has the Bears “get aggressive” and move up to No. 6 overall to take the Buckeyes star.
Wild New Trade Proposal Has Chicago Bears Move Up in Draft to Select Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs
“The Chicago Bears are coming off their first NFC North title since 2018, but the team has some significant needs. The safety position could be at the top of that list—the team’s top three safeties (Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson) are all slated to hit free agency,” Davenport wrote on February 25.
“Safety isn’t generally a position teams move up to address, but it’s not every year that a prospect like Ohio State’s Caleb Downs enters the NFL. Downs may well be the No. 1 player overall in the class, and were he to slide to No. 6 he’d be worth the cost for a Bears team with eyes on a trip to SoFi Stadium next February.”
Davenport thinks the Cleveland Browns would be willing to trade with the Bears on draft day to make this happen. Here’s a look at his complete trade proposal:
- Chicago Bears Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (No. 6 overall), 2026 Round 5 Pick
- Cleveland Browns Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick No. 25 overall), 2026 Round 3 Pick, 2027 Round 1 Pick
The Bears need to shore up the safety position, that’s for sure. But trading a future first-round pick to add one — even one as good as Downs — feels like a fantasy.
Caleb Downs Is Elite, But Costs too Much in This Scenario
GettyOhio State Buckeyes star defensive back Caleb Downs
To be fair, Downs is elite and worthy of all the accolades he’s received. The former Alabama transfer finished his collegiate career at Ohio State as one of the most decorated defensive backs in the country, earning consensus All-American honors and establishing himself as a true three-level defender. Scouts have raved about his range, instincts and physicality.
But here’s the thing: Giving up a future first-round pick to draft a safety — even one as good as Downs — runs counter to how Poles has done things. He hasn’t shied away from making any big trades, but he hasn’t given up any first-round picks in his negotiations, either.
Plus, the Bears have other arguably more pressing roster needs. They need help at defensive tackle and at edge rusher, and they also need a starting left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo likely missing the bulk of the 2026 season. They need to add multiple safeties, to be sure, but re-signing Byard feels like it could happen. They could also add another capable vet in free agency and draft another in the later rounds.
It’s always a fun exercise to play “what if” and imagine teams trading up for certain players that would fill key needs. But for the Bears, a move like this wouldn’t make much sense.
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