Report: Bears interested in trade with Titans to draft QB Marcus Mariota

The NFL Network is reporting that the Chicago Bears have reached out to the Tennessee Titans about a possible trade for the second pick in Thursday’s NFL draft.

The top two picks of the draft are widely projected to be quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota.

NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport acknowledges a deal would be a longshot at this point, but confirmed the interest.

“The St Louis Rams have had conversations, the New York Jets have had conversations and the hometown Chicago Bears have also touched base with the Tennessee Titans about possibly moving up to No. 2 to select Mariota,” Rapoport said on the NFL Network. “All of these seem like a longshot at this point, but just imagine if we hear at No. 2 the Chicago Bears are on the clock. The first draft in a long time in Chicago, it would be quite a scene here.”

Bears general manager Ryan Pace said Wednesday at Halas Hall that he has talked to every team in front of the Bears. He also said he talked to teams behind the Bears about the possibility of trading down.

The Bears have the seventh pick of the draft, and experts project Chicago to land wide receiver Kevin White, offensive lineman Brandon Scherff or nose tackle Danny Shelton with the pick.

Rapoport did not address what a trade with the Titans would include. But if the Bears believe Mariota to be good enough to trade up for, it’s clear it would be a blockbuster deal.