The Bears were able to secure the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after the Texans surprisingly beat the Colts on the final day of the 2022 NFL season.
Once that happened, it was widely anticipated that Chicago would trade it.
After all, the Bears had spent a first-round pick on Justin Fields during the 2021 NFL Draft. While he hadn't yet proven himself in full, he showed enough upside, especially as a runner, to warrant a third-year chance as Chicago's starting quarterback.
Thus, many presumed that the Bears would look to trade their coveted asset in a quarterback-rich draft to one of the teams in need of a signal-caller further down the board. They found a willing partner in the Panthers.
Carolina was armed with the ninth selection but wanted to move up for a chance to land one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. The Panthers were able to guarantee they would land their passer of choice at No. 1 overall, so they pulled the trigger on a blockbuster deal that sent an established pass-catching weapon and four draft picks to the Bears.
Since that moment, the trade has not aged so well for Carolina. Just two weeks into the 2024 season, it has benched former top pick Bryce Young in favor of veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
That decision has NFL fans revisiting the results of this blockbuster trade between the Bears and Panthers.
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Bryce Young trade details
Panthers receive:
- 2023 first-round pick (No. 1 overall)
Bears receive:
- WR D.J. Moore
- 2023 first-round pick (No. 9 overall)
- 2023 second-round pick (No. 61 overall)
- 2024 first-round pick (No. 1 overall)
- 2025 second-round pick
The Bears received a treasure trove of assets when they traded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Panthers. They landed a proven, top receiver in Moore while also picking up four draft picks — two first-round selections and two second-round selections — to allow Carolina to get its quarterback of choice.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the Panthers would select Young or C.J. Stroud with the top pick. There was also chatter that Anthony Richardson could end up being their selection if he impressed enough during the pre-draft process.
Ultimately, however, Young was the choice; and the Panthers were comfortable enough surrendering a star receiver and a potential-packed quartet of assets to get their franchise quarterback.
Players involved in the Bryce Young trade
Naturally, the Bryce Young trade occurred before the 2023 NFL Draft, as it involved assets from the event that were exchanged between the Panthers and Bears. As such, we already know most of the players that have been involved in the trade; four of them were on the field during the Bears vs. Panthers game in Week 10 last season, and another was revealed during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Here's what to know about each player involved in the deal so far:
Bryce Young, Panthers
Obviously, Young ended up being the headliner in this deal. The Alabama product became the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and was tasked with plugging the quarterback void the Panthers have failed to fill since Cam Newton's decline and departure from the team.
Through Week 2 of the 2024 season, this trade has aged like milk. After an 0-2 start, Young has been benched for veteran quarterback Dalton, per NFL.com's Tom Pelissero.
Young has compiled a pitiful 2-16 record as Carolina's starter through 18 games. With 3,122 career passing yards, he is averaging less than 200 per game and has 11 passing touchdowns to 13 interceptions. He hasn't had much of an impact on the ground either, averaging just 15.1 rushing yards per game with only one rushing touchdown.
Still, Young has plenty of upside and possesses the arm talent and mobility teams look for in quarterback prospects. It will be interesting to see how long new head coach Dave Canales keeps the supposed franchise player on the bench.
D.J. Moore, Bears
Moore was the only proven NFL player to be exchanged as part of the Young trade. The veteran receiver was a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and eclipsed 1,100 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons with the Panthers. The Bears brought him aboard to serve as a No. 1 receiver, and thus far, he has been as good as advertised.
Moore collected a career-high 1,364 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his first season with Chicago.
The 26-year-old has continued to produce despite the ever-turning carousel of quarterbacks on which he has found himself. However, he finally has some stability with rookie franchise quarterback Caleb Williams.
Moore is one of the best — and perhaps most underrated — receivers in the league.
Darnell Wright, Bears
After trading down from the first pick to the ninth, the Bears selected Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright. The plan was to play the 6-6, 335-pounder at right tackle, and he has started every game he has played in a Chicago uniform.
As one would expect, Wright's results have been mixed. He has been a solid run blocker, but he allowed seven sacks last season and has already allowed two this season.
Still, Wright is just 23 and should continue to improve as he gets more seasoning, so his potential remains sky-high.
Tyrique Stevenson, Bears
The Bears originally acquired the 61st overall pick as a part of the Young trade, but they moved up five spots to select Stevenson. The decision made sense, as the Miami (Fla.) cornerback had gotten a bit of first-round buzz ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft before slipping into Day 2.
Thus far, Stevenson has been just okay. He was second in the NFL in targets (110) and receptions allowed (72) last season and he has already been picked on more than any other corner in the league (19 targets) through Week 2 of the 2024 season.
He is still raw, but this year should help the Bears as they look to develop him into a long-term starter.
Caleb Williams, Bears
The Panthers struggled during Young's rookie season and ended up with the NFL's worst record. That gifted the Bears the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and they used it to take a franchise quarterback Caleb Williams.
Williams won the Heisman at USC in 2022 and completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just five interceptions during his final season in 2023. The 22-year-old has all the tools needed to be a franchise quarterback and has drawn comparisons to Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson, so he could turn into a true star in Chicago.
Future draft pick, Bears
The Bears still have a 2025 second-round pick at their disposal as a part of this trade. So, the payoff from it is far from over.
As it stands, the Bears received a significant haul that could become an all-time great package if Williams can turn into a top-tier NFL quarterback.
