Chicago moved up from No. 52 to No. 39 in the 2021 draft and…
Chicago moved up from No. 52 to No. 39 in the 2021 draft and selected offensive lineman Teven Jenkins, while Carolina received Nos. 52, 83 and 204 and also sent No. 151 to the Bears. The Panthers converted the move-down into Tommy Tremble, Shi Smith and additional trade flexibility. Chicago got useful linemen in Jenkins and Larry Borom, but Carolina extracted the broader package.
Carolina Panthers Received
- pick 2021 2nd round pick (52nd overall subsequently traded, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah )
- pick 2021 3rd round pick (83rd overall, Tommy Tremble)
- pick 2021 6th round pick (204th overall, Shi Smith)
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 2021 2nd round pick (39th overall, Teven Jenkins)
- pick 2021 5th round pick (151st overall, Larry Borom)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Chicago traded picks 39 and 151 to Carolina for picks 52, 83 and 204 in the 2021 draft. The Bears used No. 39 on Oklahoma State offensive lineman Teven Jenkins and No. 151 on Larry Borom. Carolina later moved No. 52 again, selected tight end Tommy Tremble at No. 83 and receiver Shi Smith at No. 204.
Why the Value Separated
The Panthers' advantage comes from optionality. Dropping only 13 spots in the second round produced an extra third-rounder and sixth-rounder, and the No. 52 selection remained valuable enough to fuel another trade. Tremble became a multi-year contributor, while the added capital allowed Carolina to keep reshaping its board. That is exactly the type of leverage a team seeks when trading down on draft weekend.
How the Deal Aged
Chicago's side was not a failure. Jenkins and Borom both played meaningful offensive-line snaps, and the Bears had a specific target they believed justified the move. The issue is cost relative to certainty. Jenkins dealt with injuries and position changes, limiting the upside Chicago hoped to capture by moving aggressively. Carolina spread its risk across multiple assets rather than tying the outcome to one early selection.
Final Verdict
Carolina gets a B+ for creating several useful avenues from a modest slide down the board. Chicago receives a C+ because Jenkins and Borom delivered enough service to keep the trade respectable, but not enough to overcome the Panthers' extra volume and downstream flexibility. The value edge belongs to Carolina without making the Bears' decision indefensible.