The 2017 Mitchell Trubisky Trade-Up: Chicago Paid San Francisco Three Picks to Move One Spot
The Bears jumped from No. 3 to No. 2 for Mitchell Trubisky. San Francisco still drafted Solomon Thomas and added picks, including the asset that became Fred Warner.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 2017 1st round pick (2nd overall, Mitchell Trubisky)
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 2017 1st round pick (3rd overall, Solomon Thomas), 2017 3rd round pick (67th overall subsequently traded, Alvin Kamara ), 2017 4th round pick (111th overall subsequently traded, Tedric Thompson) and 2018 3rd round pick (70th overall, Fred Warner)
Trade Summary
The Mitchell Trubisky trade-up became one of the defining draft mistakes of the 2010s. Chicago moved up one spot with San Francisco to select Trubisky, while Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson remained on the board. The 49ers collected extra picks, including value that eventually connected to Fred Warner, while the Bears absorbed the quarterback miss. It is also a priority indexing page because the Trubisky-Mahomes comparison keeps the trade permanently searchable.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Chicago moved from No. 3 to No. 2 in the 2017 draft and selected quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. San Francisco received the third overall pick, a 2017 third-rounder, a 2017 fourth-rounder and a 2018 third-round selection. The 49ers stayed at No. 3 and selected defensive lineman Solomon Thomas.
Why Chicago Paid to Move One Slot
The Bears believed Trubisky was their preferred franchise quarterback and did not want another team to trade with San Francisco and take him. That uncertainty gave the 49ers leverage even though Chicago was already picking immediately behind them.
Quarterback value can justify that kind of aggression, but only if the player becomes a long-term answer. Trubisky had stretches of productive play and helped Chicago reach the postseason, yet the Bears declined his fifth-year option and moved on after four seasons.
What San Francisco Did With the Extra Value
Thomas did not become the dominant defensive lineman the 49ers hoped for, which prevents the trade from being a perfect San Francisco success story. The extra selections matter more to the final verdict.
San Francisco used and recycled the added capital through additional transactions. Most importantly, the 2018 third-round pick from Chicago became linebacker Fred Warner, who developed into an All-Pro centerpiece and one of the defining players of the 49ers defense.
Why the Trade Is Bigger Than Thomas Versus Trubisky
It is tempting to compare only the two top-three selections, but that misses the purpose of a trade-down. San Francisco's benefit was keeping access to a top prospect while adding multiple chances to find value elsewhere. Warner's development shows why those extra opportunities matter.
Final Verdict
San Francisco wins clearly. Chicago's desire to secure its preferred quarterback was understandable, but the Bears paid three additional picks to move one place and did not receive a lasting franchise quarterback. The 49ers' own No. 3 selection underperformed expectations, yet the added draft capital—especially the pick that became Warner—gave San Francisco the stronger overall return.