Bear Digest

Best Bears Fallback Candidates for Trading Back at No. 9

If the Bears find top options removed in the first eight picks of the draft, they could trade back for an extra pick, and here's who they could nab instead.

Gene Chamberlain

Chop Robinson could be an ideal Bears fallback in a trade back as someone with a very high ceiling as a pass rusher, but could also bomb out.
Chop Robinson could be an ideal Bears fallback in a trade back as someone with a very high ceiling as a pass rusher, but could also bomb out. / Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Bears GM Ryan Poles has indicated nothing about trading back with the ninth pick in Round 1 and only about using the pick

"I like the numbers in terms of the talented players that can get to nine," he said during the owners meetings.

The Bears are dividing into groups to discuss the merits of different players at positions they need, namely edge rusher, receiver and offensive line.

While the likelihood is they'll take a player ninth and then go all the way until 75 in Round 3 before they pick again, it's not written in stone.

Who they take at No. 9 is not entirely within their control, though. It's always possible a team from later in the first round moves up in the first eight picks and players they expected would be available would suddenly be off the table.

Not every first-round trade up is made for a quarterback.

The Cardinals traded up to No. 6 to take tackle Paris Johnson last year. Detroit traded up to No. 12 last year to get Jahmyr Gibbs. The Eagles traded up with the Bears so they could get Jalen Carter.

The list goes on and on. Tackle Broderick Jones went to Pittsburgh as a result of a trade.

If someone jumps up in front of the Bears and takes a player or players they would want, they'll need to consider trading back. Getting a player rated lower should come with compensation in the form of a pick from later in the draft.

Most draft analysts would say the Bears should have their choice of either the third-best receiver, second-best pass rusher or second-best tackle at No. 9. If it doesn't break this way because someone traded ahead of them for a pick, GM Ryan Poles needs to be prepared. Here are top fallback options for the Bears in Round 1 should they move back in Round 1.

1. WR Brian Thomas, LSU

The fourth receiver is not as far behind the third one as some early mock drafts suggested. He raised his stock with the second-fastest 40-yard time among receivers at the combine (4.33 seconds) and the fact he caught the most touchdown passes in the nation (17) last year didn't hurt, either. It shows he can do more than run. High productivity in a program known for big-time receivers with blazing speed mean the Bears can fall back from No. 9 and get trade compensation while still coming away with an excellent target. They shouldn't be able to move back too far from No. 9 and still get Thomas. After all, he was in the combine's top 6% ever for wide receivers in 40 time, and his 79 5/8-inch wingspan is in the top 11% for the position. At 6-2 7/8, 209 pounds, Mel Kiper says an athlete like this is the 11th best on his big board. The fallback might only be to No. 10-12 if they're moving back and hope to draft him.

2. DT Byron Murphy II, Texas


A smaller version of Johnny Newton except with better combine numbers, Murphy could be a better fallback option than going to the third defensive end. He isn't tall at 6-foot-7/8 inches. He weighs 297 pounds, which is bottom 28% for players at his position at the combine. However, he has blazing speed for someone nearly 300 pounds at 4.87 seconds. That's top 9% for defensive tackles at any combine. His hand size is a freakish 11 inches, top 3% for defensive tackles. His athleticism is undeniable with a 33-inch vertical at that weight. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has him as the top defensive tackle in the draft after a career with eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss playing alongside 360-pound human road grader T'Vondre Sweat.

3. DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

Like Newton, he might be more highly regarded if not for injury issues. His battle back from a neck injury at Washington before transferring to UCLA is one of the more inspirational stories of the draft but team medical personnel would need to be totally convinced he's entirely healthy before he's drafted in Round 1. If he is judged entirely fit, then he'd be a definitely fallback for the Bears at edge and they wouldn't be able to drop too far to get him, according to Kiper. On the latest big board, Kiper rates him No. 13 in the draft. There is no question Latu is the most accomplished edge rusher. He had more sacks than anyone in his last two years with 23 sacks, five forced fumbles and 35 tackles for loss. He did nothing at the combine to suggest he has problems physically by turning in a 4.64-second 40. At 6-4 1/2, 259, about the only thing he lacks to make him ideal for ideal for the scheme coach Matt Eberflus uses is arm length. He has a wingspan of 78 1/4 inches, putting him in the bottom 16%.

4. DT Johnny Newton, Illinois

For some reason, there is no buzz about Newton as a possible option on a tradeback for the Bears and there couldn't many better defensive alternatives for them if they did opt for an extra pick or two by moving back. They could probably move well back for extra picks and still get Newton. They haven't found the 3-technique replacement for Justin Jones, aside from counting on unproven 2023 picks Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. Part of the thinking here is both will improve with more playing time and new defensive coordinator Eric Washington on board, as he has a history of elevating defensive tackles as either position coach or coordinator. Even then, it can't be assumed. Dexter was especially unimpressive against the run last year, according to Pro Football Focus, and it was the run defense that improved the most when they still had Jones. The next-best choice defensively after the two top edge rushers would actually be a cornerback but the Bears are fully stocked at that position. As a result, defensive tackle would be an option for moving back to the middle of the pack and gaining an even better pick later. Newton's draft run-up won't be boosting his stock because the 6-1 5/8, 304-pounder had January surgery to repair a fractured bone on the pinky toe side of his foot, a Jones fracture. Something like that shouldn't hurt him. After all, he was Big Ten defensive player of the year and had 7 1/2 sacks in 2023 playing largely as a 3-technique. He did mainly what he'd be doing with the Bears defense. However, such injuries often result from extra pressure being put on the foot and teams need to be sold on his total recovery before committing to him.

5. T/G Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

Judged entirely sound as a blocker by many scouts, the reason he is graded a middle-round pick by Kiper is largely his arm length. It wouldn't be an issue at guard. He is bottom 15% for tackles at 33 1/8 inches. But at 6-5 3/4, 324, he was able to efficiently take out pass rushers and run block with excellent technique. He was able to handle tackle largely because of his athleticism. At 5.13 seconds in the 40 (top 25% for tackles), with a 32-inch vertical (top 12%) and 9-3 broad jump (top 15%), he could easily transition in a wide zone blocking scheme at guard. The Bears might not be totally satisfied with their guard availability the last few years, and he would be a good way to solve this. He is said to have never allowed a sack in college.

6. T Olu Fashanu, Penn State

Fashanu has classic tackle height and reach at 6-foot-6, with 34-inch arms and ran top 21% among tackles in the 40 (5.11) while doing a 32-inch vertical (top 12%). It doesn't hurt that he was Williams' high school teammate. The Bears do not necessarily need a tackle who would stay at tackle, but it's always possible to upgrade at the position. When there are holes elsewhere and only four draft picks, they'd need to get really good compensation in a trade down to make a tackle a worthwhile pick in Round 1.

7. DE Chop Robinson, Penn State

This is your high ceiling, low floor guy for Bears tradebacks. It's boom or bust. He could be the best player they can get by trading back, or a major disappointment. If he's so good, then how did he have only 11 1/2 sacks and 20 tackles for loss at Penn State and Maryland? His measurables are flying off the chart. Yet, he didn't produce huge college numbers that warrant comparisons to Micah Parsons, the Cowboys pass rusher. Still, when he rushes it looks like he's hell bent on destruction and can be totally disruptive. The complement to Montez Sweat could be a classic end for a 4-3 like Latu or Jared Verse, or it could be Robinson, who is bottom 5% in wingspan but ran a blazing 4.48 in the 40. His size at the combine was better than projected at 6-2 7/8, 254 pounds. But he was playing at 240 in college at times. The willingness to destroy run plays besides rush the passer makes him a possibility, and with Washington's coaching you'd have to think he could sharpen pass rush technique, which scouts have said is all over the place.

8. T Troy Fautanu, Washington

Similar in athleticism to Fuaga but with longer (34 1/2-inch) arms and a better t reach, he probably is more a tackle than guard. Either way, he has tremendous athleticsm to block the run or pass. He had a top 10% vertical leap (32 1/2) and top 9% broad jump (9-3). The most impressive measurable he had was at a pro day at 5.01 seconds in the 40. He definitely could be a guard or tackle but with the reach he has and effective play he had at tackle in college, moving him seems almost a waste -- just like drafting him might be for a team with plenty of more pressing needs than tackle.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

BearDigest.com publisher Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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