3 Players the Bears Should Trade Up for in NFL Draft

The 2021 NFL Draft is quickly approaching as teams prepare for Thursday's first round. The Chicago Bears have the chance to inject some life into a team that finished 8-8 last season and fell short in the playoffs.

Bears GM Ryan Pace has stated that all cards on the table for Chicago's No. 20 pick, including a trade up.

Here are three players the Bears should trade up for in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

3. DeVonta Smith, WR

Chicago already has Pro Bowler Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller and promising young wideout Darnell Mooney, though none of their future's in Chicago are concrete. The Bears' offense on the whole lacks playmakers. Drafting Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith would solve that. He averaged 16.9 yards per reception over four years at Alabama. His standout senior year (117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 TDs) showcased that he has No. 1 receiver potential at the next level. The one knock against Smith is his small frame, and there's potential for him to drop past the top 10 despite his insane production. The Bears should jump at the chance if he lasts longer on the board than expected. Adding Smith would immediately elevate this offense and give Chicago insurance in case Robinson walks next offseason.

2. Rashawn Slater, OT

Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater could turn out to be the best at his position from this loaded class, though the hype around Oregon's Penei Sewell has overshadowed his draft stock. Slater could be a post-top-10 pick and presents another trade-up target for Chicago. He earned a 90.0 grade from ProFootballFocus for his 2019 campaign, giving up 0 sacks and just 1 QB hit. Slater has been praised for his athleticism and footwork, which gives him coveted versatility on the offensive line. O-line is one of the Bears' biggest needs in this draft and a trade up to address that area makes a ton of sense.

1. Justin Fields, QB

Ohio State's Justin Fields is arguably the most polarizing QB prospect in the draft. He was once regarded as the No. 2 quarterback prospect, but has seen his stock fall rapidly. If he slips past the San Francisco 49ers at No. 3 and Atlanta Falcons at No. 4, Chicago should be aggressive in trading up for him. He threw for 5,373 yards and 63 TDs at Ohio State while showcasing his dual-threat potential with another 867 yards and 15 scores on the ground. Fields could be a possible franchise QB, which the Bears need with Mitchell Trubiksy gone and veteran Andy Dalton on a one-year deal. If teams really talk themselves out of drafting him, Chicago should pounce.

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Isaiah De Los Santos is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Isaiah De Los Santos also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username zayyy05328. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.