Trading down from the 13th overall pick is certainly a possibility for the LA Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft. Anything can happen in the draft and it is widely going to be influenced on the first 12 picks. However, if the cards fall a certain way and a team is interested, it does make sense to trade down.
There are multiple teams to keep an eye on. The New England Patriots are a potential trade partner, especially after Bill Belichick’s comments. The Arizona Cardinals could be a trade partner as well as they are rumored to be moving up for a wide receiver.
Those teams would represent a small trade-down for the Bolts, going to either the 15th or 16th pick. The Chargers could trade even further down in the first round, perhaps to the 20th overall pick.
The Chicago Bears make perfect sense as a trade-down partner for the Bolts. Here is why.
1. The Chicago Bears should be desperate for a quarterback and the LA Chargers are in a spot to trade down
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace should not be that comfortable with their job security. Sure, they snuck into the playoffs as an 8-8 team last year but that does not mean anything. Mike Mularkey was fired from the Tennessee Titans after the 2017 season after going 9-7 and winning a playoff game!
The Bears have had one of the most talented defenses in the league and have had talented skill position players on offense as well. The biggest drawback has been the quarterback position with the terrible Mitch Trubisky mistake.
The Bears signed Andy Dalton but that is not enough. Pace is going to be desperate to get someone who is going to save his job and that someone is a rookie in the first round this year. The Bears drafting a rookie can prolong his job and secure it if he plays well.
The Chargers are also the team to target to trade up with if you are the Bears. There would have to be a quarterback that falls past the Denver Broncos at nine. Then, picks 10-12 (Dallas, New York, Philadelphia) all have roster needs that can be filled by a top-10 pick.
Those teams likely are not going to trade down while the Chargers could be easier to convince. If there is a quarterback on the board after the Denver selection I would keep an eye out on the Chargers’ activity.