Silver linings are hard to find in a 31-10 loss like the Chicago Bears suffered to the New York Jets in Week 12. But there was one for Bears fans who are already looking forward to the 2023 offseason.
The Bears' loss moved them up one spot in the 2023 NFL Draft, from No. 3 overall to No. 2. And while moving up one spot may not seem like a big deal for a team that isn't searching for a quarterback with their first-round pick, it's incredibly valuable for a club like Chicago, which can leverage that selection in a trade with a team that's desperate to find their Justin Fields.
By leapfrogging the Carolina Panthers, who defeated the Denver Broncos in Week 12, the Bears now hold one of the two most important picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Quarterbacks Bryce Young (Alabama) and C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) will be in demand early in the first round; GM Ryan Poles can ask for a king's ransom in a trade to move down.
It's the best-case scenario for a Bears team with many holes to fill. A player like Alabama's Will Anderson or Georgia's Jalen Carter would be enormous additions to a defense devoid of talent. But Chicago isn't one player away on either side of the ball. If they can score multiple first-round picks in exchange for a top-two selection? That's a big win.
The 2023 NFL Draft order is far from settled. The Bears haven't had their bye yet, and several three-win teams could catch them in the loss column by the time Week 14 concludes. For now, though, Chicago is sitting pretty even after an ugly loss to the Jets.