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.
It seems prohibitively expensive for a team to move up in the NFL Draft, especially in the first round. How many times have the Bears traded up or down in the first round? Were any of those trades memorable and who were the teams involved?
Ben
Tampa, Florida
Since 1990, the Bears have traded eight of their first-round draft picks as follows: 1) Four were used to move down to acquire additional selections. In 1999, the Bears dealt the No. 7 choice to the Redskins for the No. 12 pick (they used to draft QB Cade McNown) and four additional selections in Rounds 3 (WR D'Wayne Bates), 4 (LB Warrick Holdman) and 5 (OT Jerry Wisne) in 1999 and Round 3 in 2000 (TE Dustin Lyman). In 2003, the Bears traded down twice in the first round, sending the No. 4 choice to the Jets for Nos. 13 and 22 (QB Rex Grossman) and a fourth-rounder (DT Ian Scott). They followed by dealing the No. 13 pick to the Patriots for No. 14 (DE Michael Haynes) and a sixth-rounder they later traded. In 2006, the Bears sent the 26th selection to the Bills for choices in Rounds 2 (S Danieal Manning) and 3 (DT Dusty Dvoracek). 2) Three first-round choices were traded to acquire starting quarterbacks; the Bears dealt the No. 11 pick in 1997 to the Seahawks for Rick Mirer and their first-rounders in 2009 (No. 18) and 2010 (No. 11) as part of a package to acquire Jay Cutler. The last time the Bears traded up in the first round was 1996 when they sent the No. 18 selection and choices in Rounds 3 and 6 to move up to No. 13 to take CB Walt Harris.
Who do you think is the best No. 7 overall pick ever?
John N.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
I'd say that cornerback Champ Bailey is the best No. 7 pick in NFL history. Selected by Washington in the 1999 draft, he was voted to 12 Pro Bowls in 15 NFL seasons with the Redskins (1999-2003) and Broncos (2004-13). I would rank Vikings running back Adrian Peterson second, followed by Bears Hall of Famer Clyde "Bulldog" Turner and former Giants quarterback Phil Simms.
Not sure you can answer this, but why do the Bears play their first and last preseason games at home? I'm a season-ticket holder and those two games are the worst to go to. I also believe they had the same lousy games a couple of years ago.
Jim
It's just the luck of the draw I guess. The Bears did play their first and last preseason games at Soldier Field in 2011, but that was the only time it's happened since 2001. The Bears have an agreement to play the Browns in the last preseason game with the contest alternating between Chicago and Cleveland each year. I think everyone agrees that the third preseason game is the best one to watch because it most resembles a regular-season contest, and the Bears will play that game on the road this summer for the fifth straight year after hosting the penultimate preseason contest six of seven years.
