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 getting a third year 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.
Below is a recap of that trade and the players that Chicago has gotten from it to date.
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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.
MORE: Could the Panthers fire Frank Reich?
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, 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 nine weeks of the 2023 NFL season, that hasn't yet gone to plan. Young has led the Panthers to just a 1-7 record while completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 1,375 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Still, Young has plenty of upside and possesses the arm talent and mobility teams look for in quarterback prospects. He's undersized at 5-10, 204 pounds, but that shouldn't hold him back too much as he looks to prove himself in Carolina.
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 1,157 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons with the Panthers. The Bears brought him aboard to serve as Justin Fields' No. 1 receiver, and thus far, he has been as good as advertised.
Moore is on pace to record 1,388 receiving yards and nine touchdowns entering Week 10. Both would be career-best marks. Part of this is thanks to the eight-catch, 230-yard, three-touchdown performance he had against the Commanders on "Thursday Night Football" earlier in the season; it is also thanks to the connection he has shown with both Fields and backup quarterback Tyson Bagent.
MORE: Why wasn't Tyson Bagent drafted?
Indeed, the 26-year-old Moore has continued to produce despite the ever-turning carousel of quarterbacks on which he has found himself. If Fields can perform more consistently — or if the Bears opt to select a new signal-caller early in the 2024 NFL Draft — then Moore could finally be poised for his big breakout campaign next season.
But either way, he 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 all nine of Chicago's games there since the start of the season.
As one would expect, Wright's results have been mixed. He has been a solid run blocker, but he has allowed five sacks this season, tied for the fifth-most among offensive tackles, while committing six penalties, tied for the 12th-most at the position.
Still, Wright is just 22 and grades as Pro Football Focus' 39th overall tackle for the 2023 season. He 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 posted solid stats, logging 54 tackles and five pass defenses in nine starts, but he has allowed a passer rating of 130.2 on a league-high 66 targets. He is still raw, but this year of development 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 solid haul that could become an all-time great package if Williams can turn into a top-tier NFL quarterback.
But if Young bounces back for the Panthers in 2024 or Williams struggles, Carolina may be able to close the gap.