Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
How many trades did the Bears make during last year's draft?
Jerry G.
Forest Park, Illinois
General manager Ryan Pace and his crew made four trades while on the clock in last year's draft:
1) The Bears dealt the No. 11 pick in the first round and a fourth-round selection (106th overall) to the Buccaneers in exchange for the No. 9 pick in the first round. The Bears selected outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, a player the Giants reportedly were coveting at No. 10. Tampa Bay chose cornerback Vernon Hargreaves at No. 11 and traded the No. 106 pick to the Chiefs, who selected cornerback Eric Murray.
2) The Bears moved down twice in the second round before choosing offensive lineman Cody Whitehair at No. 56. First, they sent the No. 41 pick to the Bills—who took linebacker Reggie Ragland in that spot—in exchange for picks in the second round (No. 49) and fourth round (No. 117) and a fourth-round pick this year (No. 117).
3) The Bears traded the No. 49 pick to the Seahawks—who took defensive tackle Jarran Reed—in exchange for the No., 56 pick the Bears spent on Whitehair and a fourth-round selection (124th) that the Bears used to take safety Deon Bush.
4) The Bears moved up four spots in the fourth round, trading the No. 117 pick and the No. 206 pick in the sixth round to the Rams for the No. 113 pick that they spent on linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski. The Rams chose receivers Pharoh Cooper at No. 117 and Mike Thomas at No. 206.
What are the chances the Bears trade up to pick Myles Garrett?
Dave
I don't have any inside information, but I would be very surprised if the Bears moved up in the first round from the No. 3 spot. This draft is considered very deep and therefore I believe they would rather add picks than subtract them—especially in the first three or four rounds—even if it means moving up to take a very good player. (The price to land Myles Garrett figures to be especially high.) For those reasons I believe that most teams in the top 10 will probably be more motivated to move down than up.
All the really good quarterbacks seem to have a really good tight end. Would it be too much of a stretch for the Bears to consider O.J. Howard at No. 3? He seems like he could be a huge plus to the offense.
Jim C.
Indianapolis, Indiana
The Bears have drafted only two tight ends in the first round—Mike Ditka fifth in 1961 and Greg Olsen 31st in 2007. But if the Bears feel that Howard can be a perennial Pro Bowl-type player capable of making a major impact, I'd imagine they'd consider him among other prospects at No. 3. In other words, I don't think the fact that he plays tight end is reason enough to exclude him from the list of possibilities if they feel he can be a difference-maker.
