Considering it has been brought up that JA likes to trade down, and that the signing of Shaffer allows the Bears to draft a WR, I have a fantasy-driven thought that would enable the Bears to get both a WR and QB in the first round, or some other combo of value picks.

After reading the post from the KC Chiefs blog projecting that we'd draft Freeman with the 18th pick...I thought that was a bit of a reach, considering those teams around us aren't really (according to the media) targeting QBs...here is my dream:

Perhaps JA would trade the 18th and the 2nd rounder for the Eagles 21st and 28th pick. I don't now, or care, whether that slots into the point system/value chart that was created in the last few years that has become over-used in coming up with trade scenarios. I do, know, however that such a deal, with perhaps a little more added in from the Bears, would fit with both teams' strategies/needs.

This is all fantasy, of course, so here is why: The Eagles have been known to trade picks during the draft, and target a player at certain spots. Also, the Eagles are a thrifty team that seem to like the 2nd round --look the last few years where they have traded out of the 1st a lot. I get a sense that they don't like negotiating high-end contracts (Jeremiah Trotter) or paying 1st Round guarantees to unproven commodities. Look at last year -- Desean Jackson was the 2nd of two close picks in Round Two last year. Just drafting him right after Trevor Laws allowed them to save money on DJ.  Like the Bears, they are thrifty enough to save money. They have good talent evaluators and seem to know what they want.

Perhaps they'll draft two WRs for McNabb, or a WR and a RB...or a replacement for Dawkins. But, they know how to get talent in later rounds and I see them possibly shopping their 1st Round picks.

So, the Bears come along, needing to fill a couple holes (that's what she said...). We could pick up Nicks, DHB or Britts at 21 and Freeman at 28. 

Some will say the Bears are cheap, but they have invested in their own. And, if you look at last years draft: Flacco got 30 mill. over 5 years at 18...but Sam Baker and Lawrence Jackson combined are slotted to make 24.75 over 5 years. 

Yes, Flacco got that money because he's a QB, and the 17th and 19th pick only got about 15 million, but if we did draft Freeman I can't see him being worth what Flacco signed for. 

Also, I know that Flacco had less guaranteed money than either Baker or LJ, but Flacco came into a situation where he had a high likelihood of starting. We still have Orton, and I don't believe Freeman will challenge Orton for a year or two -- if ever. More importantly, I don't think the Bears do.

Even if we didn't go for Freeman (why, when next years QB crop will be better), I'd like to see the Bears try and make this kind of move. Angelo is all about getting starters out of the draft, and this kind of move maximizes the crapshoot of getting multiple players they may be targeting.

Hell, we could draft two WRs if we made such a move, as I joked the Eagles could do...then at least one of them might work out. Or we could get a falling OT and a WR, and still get a safety and another WR in Round 3.

As the draft nears, it seems like WR is becoming more and more the pick at 18. So it makes sense that we could wait a little, being a WR-rich draft.