The Chicago Bears have an enviable situation on their hands. Thanks to some masterful wheeling and dealing by GM Ryan Poles, the team now holds two top 10 picks in the 2024 draft, the #1 pick and the #9 pick. If they stay put, it will be the first time since 1979 that the Bears have utilized two picks that high. That was the year they drafted Dan Hampton. Everybody remembers how crucial he became to their eventual Super Bowl championship. Hopes are high that Poles can deliver a similar surge of momentum this April.
As things stand, most people believe the Bears have made their decision on the #1 pick. They will use it on a quarterback. Caleb Williams of USC is the heavy favorite. This isn’t a surprise. Justin Fields made progress last year, but not enough to justify passing on a top prospect. There is little debate about what will happen there.
Things change significantly once the 9th pick is discussed. According to a source, there is a considerable divide inside Halas Hall on what the Bears should target at that spot. Several scouts and personnel people want to target one of the top pass rush rushers, hoping to put somebody dynamic across from Montez Sweat. Others, including Poles himself, are eyeing one of the top wide receivers, feeling the crop of talent available is rare.
This debate isn’t all that surprising for the Chicago Bears.
Both positions have a lot of strength at the top of this draft. Both are considered premium positions. Poles’ logic is sound. If he’s drafting a young quarterback, it makes perfect sense to surround him with as much firepower as possible. The Bears already have D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet but need another outside weapon. While Marvin Harrison Jr. is unlikely to fall to #9, two others could. One is LSU’s Malik Nabers, and the other is Washington’s Rome Odunze. Nabers is an instant big play with explosive acceleration and blazing speed. Odunze is a crafty route runner with smooth fluidity and outstanding hands.
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Taking either of them at #9 would be a boon for Williams or whichever quarterback they choose. That said, the Chicago Bears may not have that option. Many experts wouldn’t be surprised if both wide receivers were gone by that point. New England, Arizona, New York, and Tennessee all need wide receiver help. If all three are gone, the decision becomes easy.
The two biggest pass rusher names are Dallas Turner and Jared Verse. Turner is a freaky athletic hunter who dominated for Alabama. His motor is notoriously non-stop. Verse is a muscle-packed powerhouse who can win with strength or quickness. Laiatu Latu of UCLA might actually be the best of the bunch, but there are serious medical concerns about him.
Either way, the Bears have some good options on the table once they go on the clock again.
The McCaskeys are NOT going to pay JF. They just passed on adding the best head coach since Mike Ditka because 16 million per year was too much. Now you think those same owners will turn around and pay a less important piece of the puzzle 45-50 million per year? What are people smoking these days? Face it they are going to draft a QB high in this draft. Might be the 1st pick or it could be the 2nd pick. We just have to hope that they choose the right one.
The Bears top three choices in this year’s draft will not include a quarterback. If they trade the number one pick with Washington, they should use the number two pick to select Marvin Harrison Jr. At number nine they should select TE Brock Bowers and if he’s still available their next selection should be C Jackson Powers Johnson. If the Bears are able to get these three players people will soon realize that Justin Fields is the quarterback they need.
FA will most likely determine what they do with #9.
If Poles is willing to pay big bucks in FA, I think it will be for another edge rusher, and not a WR.
So that would leave the #9 pick open for either a WR or TE. He might even entertain offers from teams picking from 12 to 17 looking to move up to #9. In that scenario they exchange first round picks, with Poles gathering more draft capital on day two where the real meat of a team is built….
If Poles is sure of Caleb Williams at 1.01, then he shouldn’t have to burn 1.09 on a WR, right?
“Draft capital” is a scary term when you have a guy like Ryan Poles, pulling the trigger.
He will not be confused with: Brett Veach, Brad Holmes or Brian Gutekunst, based upon recent history.