Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is in the books, although it wasn’t kind to the Chicago Bears as they were blown out by the Green Bay Packers.
It’s a little too early to start focusing on the 2024 NFL draft next April. But considering the Bears have a pair of first-round picks (thanks to the Carolina Panthers), it’s definitely something worth monitoring throughout the season.
So how does Chicago’s Week 1 loss (coupled with the Panthers’ opening loss) impact draft order projections?
According to The Athletic‘s Austin Mocks, the Bears are projected to have two top-five picks in the 2024 NFL draft. And they could very well be in play for a quarterback, which is a decision general manager Ryan Poles has to make by season’s end.
The reality of that situation, and of this exceptionally talented QB class in particular, is it will force GM Ryan Poles to make a call on Justin Fields’ future as a franchise QB. But that fork in the road was coming anyway, so may as well reach it with two high draft choices.
If Chicago ends up with two top-five draft picks, it’s an indication of how bad their season turned out, along with some luck that Carolina also struggles.
But it’s only Week 1. There’s plenty of football left to be played.