Bears among 'several' teams offering multiple picks for Stafford

Many teams were interested in former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, and the Bears were reportedly one of them.

The Lions traded Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff, a third-round draft pick in 2021 and first-round draft picks in 2022 and 2023. The blockbuster deal swapped two former No. 1-overall draft picks, bringing Goff to the Bears' NFC North division rivals, along with a basket full of draft picks.

But according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Bears were one of "several" teams that offered "more than a first-round pick" for Stafford. Rapoport said the Bears, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots all inquired about Stafford.

Rapoport noted that two things made the trade with the Rams the most appealing for the Lions: Stafford wanted to go to Los Angeles, and the Rams could offer the most experienced young quarterback among the teams mentioned.

While he has had his ups and downs in the NFL, Goff is only 26 years old and has led his team to the playoffs multiple times and an appearance in Super Bowl 53 after the 2019 season.

The report indicates what many have suspected: The Bears are going to be aggressive in the quarterback market this offseason. With Mitch Trubisky's contract expiring in March, the Bears - much like the Rams with Goff - seem to think they have a team good enough to compete, but lacking a quality quarterback. This likely won't be the last time the Bears are mentioned in the running for a veteran quarterback over the next few weeks or months.

As the Lions embark on a transition period with a new general manager and a new head coach, it's not surprising they wanted a young quarterback in return for Stafford. The Bears simply couldn't match the Rams' offer. It's also not surprising that the Lions probably had little interest in trading Stafford within the NFC North division.