The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2025 NFL draft, where they’re set to welcome a new crop of rookies to the fold. The Bears have seven draft picks, including four in the Top 75 — starting with the 10th overall selection.

Following an eventual offseason where they upgraded in the offensive and defensive trenches, Chicago has flexibility to select the best player available rather than draft for need. And with those four prime Top 75 picks, there should be a wealth of talent.

While there’s been discussion about the Bears potentially trading back from No. 10 should their top prospects be off the board, some experts have been speculating about a possible trade up. The most popular has been Chicago making a move to land top running back Ashton Jeanty. But what about the top defender in this draft class?

In a new mock draft from Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling, the Bears take a massive swing by trading up with the New York Giants to select Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at third overall. As far as compensation, the Bears send their pair of early second-round picks (Nos. 39, 41) to the Giants to move up seven spots for Carter.

Now we’re talking. There aren’t too many obvious trade scenarios at the top of this draft, but what if the Giants aren’t convinced that Sanders should be their franchise passer, or that Carter is the right choice given the presence of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux? The Bears filled all of their biggest needs in free agency and via trade freeing them up to send both of their early second-rounders to the G-Men (and getting back a late third-rounder) to land an elite pass rusher.

If not for the Tennessee Titans‘ need at quarterback, Carter would likely be the unanimous first overall pick given his game-wrecking ability and how he gets after the quarterback. Last season with Penn State, Carter totaled 68 tackles, including a country-best 24 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles and our pass breakups.

A starting duo of Montez Sweat and Carter is certainly a tempting thought, but it’s hard to imagine the Bears making a move to trade up from 10th overall when they have prime Day 3 picks.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2025 NFL mock draft: Bears make big trade to land top defender