Bears trade down, land stud OT in Peter Schrager’s first 2024 mock draft

In Peter Schrager’s first mock draft of the 2024 offseason, the Bears trade down from No. 9 and go offensive tackle.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2024 NFL draft, where they will be selecting Caleb Williams. There aren’t many (or any, really) mock drafts having the star USC quarterback going anywhere but Chicago. It feels like a foregone conclusion at this stage of the game.

However, the Bears also have another selection at ninth overall, which is much more intriguing. They could select a multitude of different players at various positions, or they could trade back (or up).

In Peter Schrager’s first 2024 mock draft on NFL.com, he leads things off with the Bears selecting Williams. That is no shock as mentioned before.

As I’ve reported, the Bears had a great meeting with Caleb at the NFL Scouting Combine, followed by a pair of enjoyable dinners in Los Angeles (before USC’s pro day) and Chicago (before the quarterback’s visit to Halas Hall). The team is all in. And so, from what I’m told, is Williams.

Perhaps more interesting is what Schrager has the Bears doing next. Chicago trades down from No. 9 with the Indianapolis Colts — forgoing the chance to draft LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers and selecting Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham at No. 15.

After piling up more draft capital by trading back, the Bears still land a stud offensive tackle. Latham could be the second OT taken on draft night — some teams like him that much. If the board falls this way, Chicago adds a big, pedigreed bookend who can join last year’s first-round tackle, Darnell Wright, in protecting the new franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams.

Considering some other needs — most notably edge rusher — it’s certainly a surprising selection. But by adding Lathan to an improving offensive line, he might hit the ground running in the NFL. He is expected to be among the first tackles off the board, and the Bears could be that team in theory. With right tackle Darnell Wright showing so much promise in his rookie year, anchoring both tackle positions would go a long way in protecting Williams.

Chicago didn’t do a good job of protecting Justin Fields or anyone that came before him. If they are going to do it right his time, having a good offensive line is one of they keys. If their actual draft looked like Schrager’s mock, it might not be all that bad.

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Bears load up on offense in ESPN’s latest 3-round mock draft

In a new three-round mock draft from ESPN, the Bears land their franchise QB in Caleb Williams and immediately build around him.

The 2024 NFL draft is just over a week away, and the Chicago Bears are close to being on the clock with the first overall pick.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Field Yates unveiled a new three-round mock draft, where the Bears went all-in on offense with their three selections in the first three rounds.

In what will come as no surprise, Kiper has the Bears selecting quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. It’s all but a guarantee at this point after Chicago has spent extensive time with Williams, including on his one and only Top 30 visit of this pre-draft process.

This is a no-brainer pick. Williams is the best quarterback in this class, and the Bears need a franchise passer to build around.

With the ninth overall pick, Chicago elects to pair Williams with an elite wide receiver in Washington’s Rome Odunze. The addition of Odunze, who would be WR1 in any other draft class, would give the Bears one of the best receiver trios in the league with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.

I love this fit with Williams, though I thought about an offensive lineman or edge rusher too. Odunze could be a star. This is how Chicago can set up Williams to succeed as a rookie.

After using their pair of first rounders on offense, Kiper has the Bears sticking with offense and adding depth at offensive tackle with Yale’s Kiran Amegadjie. It’s an interesting move considering the needs along the defensive line, particularly edge rusher. But it isn’t exactly a deep position group.

Amegadjie played just four games last season after tearing his quad muscle in October, but he has intriguing traits in a 6-foot-5 frame. I thought about an edge rusher for the Bears, but there aren’t many likely to play early in this range. I’d rather take a flier on Amegadjie.

In this three-round mock draft, the Bears land their franchise quarterback in Williams and immediately build around him with their ensuing selections.

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Bears land superstar QB-WR duo in Mel Kiper’s new 2-round mock draft

The Bears land a dream scenario at quarterback and receiver in Mel Kiper’s latest 2-round mock draft.

The Chicago Bears are preparing for an important 2024 NFL draft, where all eyes are on them with the No. 1 and No. 9 picks.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper revealed his latest two-round mock draft, which has the Bears landing a dynamic quarterback-receiver pairing with their two top-10 selections.

In what will come as no surprise, Kiper has Chicago selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick. This has been in the cards for awhile, it’s the closest thing to a lock in this draft.

I don’t think we need to spend much time debating the direction the Bears will go here. Justin Fields is gone, and Williams is the clear best quarterback in this class. With Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and Cole Kmet as his top three targets, he’s going to have a chance to hit the ground running in a way that Bryce Young just couldn’t in Carolina last season.

Williams is a supreme talent with top-tier arm strength, accuracy and improvisational skills in and outside the pocket.

Williams is already entering the best situation for a No. 1 rookie quarterback in probably forever — with a slew of weapons, including DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Cole Kmet, along with a potential top-five defense and QB-friendly offensive coordinator.

But if Chicago managed to land Washington wideout Rome Odunze, as Kiper predicts, on top of it all? Look out.

This would be a dream scenario for the Bears, right? They would be adding an elite wideout on a rookie contract to play with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, and they wouldn’t have to move up from No. 9 to do it. Remember that Allen is a free agent in 2025, so wide receiver is a bigger need for Chicago than it might seem. The 6-foot-3 Odunze was a nightmare for defenses to deal with in college. He had 92 catches last season, 23 of which came on vertical routes, the most in the FBS, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Kiper notes, if the Bears pass on a receiver, to look for them to go edge rusher with UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and Florida State’s Jared Verse still on the board.

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Bears overhaul their offense in Draft Network’s 4-round mock draft

The Bears land a dynamic duo at QB-WR, along with help in the trenches, in the Draft Network’s latest four-round mock.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2024 NFL draft. They only have four selections, but they all come in the first four rounds, and two are in the top 10. There is an opportunity to turn around a long history of losing.

The Draft Network’s Damian Parson released his latest four-round mock draft, where there are some interesting selections made across the NFL. But if this mock were to come to fruition, it would help the Bears for a very long time.

Of course, with the number one overall pick in the draft, Parson has the Bears selecting USC star quarterback Caleb Williams. The former Heisman Trophy winner is considered by some to be generational but nothing can ever be certain with prospects. He has an incredibly high ceiling that he just has to work hard and develop his skills into NFL-ready ability.

QB1 goes first overall… enough said!

With the ninth overall selection, Parson has Chicago selecting LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers. He is one of the “big three” receivers in the first round of the draft, along with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze. It would be a steal to land Nabers at No. 9.

D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, and now Malik Nabers would be a young QB’s dream supporting cast. Nabers has been compared to Moore but with more explosiveness and speed. Caleb Williams would be set up for a (potential) C.J. Stroud-esqe rookie campaign.

Nabers is coming from that LSU offense that featured a bunch of NFL-caliber stars, including quarterback Jayden Daniels (who Parson has going the Washington Commanders second overall) and receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (who he has going 23rd to the New England Patriots). With some of the weapons that would be around him in Chicago, he may thrive just the same.

In the third round at pick 75, Parson has the Bears taking Kansas edge rusher Austin Booker. The Bears have a need when it comes to a pass rusher, so taking a chance on a guy like Booker (who could rotate with DeMarcus Walker opposite Montez Sweat) could be a smart idea. Alongside Sweat, good things could happen with his development at the NFL level.

In the fourth round, Chicago selects Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni. Apparently, Parson thinks the Bears did a good job scouting Kansas’s football program because this is the second Jayhawks player he has them taking. Adding depth to the offensive line is something that general manager Ryan Poles has been doing since he arrived in Chicago, and he isn’t stopping any time soon.

If this is the draft that Poles and his staff end up having, the Bears could end up being very good in 2024 and beyond. Overhauling the offense has been needed for a long time, so the moves made already this offseason — combined with a draft like this — would be impactful.

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Bears secure playmaking QB-WR duo in The Athletic’s latest mock draft

The Bears land a dynamic QB-WR duo in the top 10 in The Athletic’s latest mock draft.

We’re less than three weeks away from the 2024 NFL draft, where the Chicago Bears will welcome some new faces to the roster. And with a pair of top-10 picks, Chicago can land a couple of blue chip players.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman revealed his latest mock draft, which featured intel from rival coaches who have faced these prospects. And if Feldman’s mock were to come to fruition, it would make Bears fans quite happy.

As expected, Feldman has Chicago selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall selection. It’s a move that’s all but official at this point after Williams made his first (and only) Top 30 visit with the Bears last week.

Coaching intel: “That kid is magician. He just pulls stuff out of his ass. That program (USC) was in disarray. Without Caleb (last year), I think they go 4-8 easy. I think he is phenomenal. He’s extremely accurate off of his back foot, and on the run. He needs to keep working on throwing on time and getting on rhythm.”

Williams is coming into an idea situation for a rookie quarterback, where he has an arsenal of weapons in DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet and D’Andre Swift. And Chicago could certainly have an opportunity to add to that group in the NFL draft.

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Chicago will have several options with the ninth overall selection — be it edge rusher, wide receiver or offensive tackle. In this mock, Brugler has a top receiver falling to the Bears: LSU star Malik Nabers.

Coaching intel: “He can separate like nobody else. He has super speed and explosiveness. He’s got this big lower half and is so scary in the open field. He is elite with the ball in his hands.”

Nabers’ draft stock has certainly elevated following his impressive pro day, and it would be a huge win for Chicago if he somehow fell to No. 9. In any other draft class, Nabers would be the consensus WR1 — and some believe he is in this 2024 class.

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Bears land pair of impact players in USA Today’s latest mock draft

The Bears land a pair of immediate starters in the first round in USA Today’s latest mock draft.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for what’s hopefully a franchise-altering 2024 NFL draft, where they hold two first-round picks, including the No. 1 overall selection.

USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz revealed his latest mock draft, where the Bears landed a pair of impact contributors with their top-10 picks.

In what will come as a surprise to no one (including Washington Commanders fans), he has Chicago selecting Williams with the first overall selection.

What’s left to say about an outcome that has never been in serious doubt since the Bears secured this slot? Let’s focus instead on Chicago’s overall approach. Williams will step into an offensive outlook far more promising than the one awaiting other potential rookie signal-callers in Washington and New England, as the Bears’ receivers and offensive line look capable of holding their own while a first-year passer finds his way. General manager Ryan Poles recently pushed back against ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III’s remarks about the franchise’s history of developing quarterbacks, saying “we were hired to break a cycle.” Far too early to say whether he will succeed, but the setup for Year 3 has been impressive.

Williams recently had his Top 30 visit with the Bears — which is expected to be his only pre-draft visit among teams — where he toured Halas Hall and even dined with Bears brass and current players, including DJ Moore. At this point, the only thing left for the Bears to do is turn in the card on draft night.

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While there’s no question what the Bears will do with the first overall selection, the No. 9 pick presents plenty of intrigue — and options.

Interestingly enough, in this scenario, Chicago elects to pass on Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, who fell to them at No. 9. Instead, they go with Florida State defensive end Jared Verse, who’s the second edge rusher off the board after Alabama’s Dallas Turner at No. 8.

Many have long assumed that the Bears would use this selection on a pass catcher in a bid to further improve the supporting cast for Williams. But what if Poles gravitates toward making a significant upgrade to a pass rush that ranked 31st in sacks (30) even after the addition of Pro Bowler Montez Sweat? Verse’s hard-charging style would make him a fast favorite of Matt Eberflus, and he’s the kind of piece capable of helping this defense continue the ascension that began late last year.

Edge rusher is one of the Bears’ biggest needs on the roster, as they’re in need of a starter opposite Montez Sweat. In this mock, Chicago gets just that in Verse, who should further help elevate a pass rush that was among the worst in the NFL last season (even after the acquisition of Sweat).

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Bears land dynamic duo in Field Yates’ latest mock draft

The Bears have a perfect first round in Field Yates’ new mock draft, where they secure a dynamic duo for the future.

ESPN’s Field Yates unveiled his latest two-round mock draft, which featured a favorable scenario for the Chicago Bears with their pair of top-10 selections.

In what will come as a surprise to no one, Chicago selects USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall selection. It’s as close to a lock as you can get at this point, following the Justin Fields trade and the extensive time the Bears have spent with Williams during the pre-draft process.

We know the Bears will use the first overall pick on a quarterback — they traded Justin Fields to the Steelers last month — and Williams is a safe bet to be the answer under center. His dazzling playmaking ability will travel to the NFL, and he’d be set up for early success with an enviable wide receiver duo of DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Chicago might even be able to further improve his supporting cast with its second top-10 selection at No. 9. Either way, this pick concludes the stress-free portion of the draft, as things get interesting from here.

The No. 9 pick is where things will get interesting for the Bears. With the expectation that four quarterbacks will be selected in the top five, Chicago will have options at several positions come the ninth overall selection.

In this scenario, Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze falls right into the Bears’ lap, giving Chicago a potent 1-2-3 punch at receiver along with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.

This pick projection really excites me. Odunze ranks sixth on my board, meaning he’s a value pick at No. 9 and a great get for the offense, which will be led by a rookie QB. The idea of Odunze alongside DJ Moore and Keenan Allen is tantalizing, as Odunze tied for the most contested catches in the FBS last season with 24. His combination of 6-foot-3 size, great body control and high-end instincts makes him a threat at every level of the field.

If Odunze isn’t available, one of offensive tackle Joe Alt or edge rusher Dallas Turner (both considered the top prospect at their respective positons) will be available for the Bears at No. 9. General manager Ryan Poles could even elect to trade back and acquire more capital in what’s a top-loaded draft class. It’s a win-win scenario regardless.

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Bears improve their offense in Lance Zierlein’s latest mock draft

If the Bears were to land this haul in Lance Zierlein’s latest mock draft, it would be an ideal scenario for Chicago.

The Chicago Bears’ direction in the 2024 NFL draft is all anyone can think of right now. Which makes sense considering they have the No. 1 overall pick (courtesy of the Carolina Panthers) along with their own No. 9 selection.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein released his latest mock draft, and it has some very interesting selections. There are a few trades made and some really good selections across the league.

As far the Bears’ selections go, it’s an ideal first round.

Zierlein had the Bears, to the surprise of nobody, selecting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. It’s essentially a lock at this point, especially after the team traded away Justin Fields.

At this point, anything other than the Bears taking Williams with this selection would be a shock.

Between picks 2-8, there was a steady mix of other quarterbacks, offensive weapons, and defensive players taken. Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze was still on the board, though, and that is the direction Zierlein has the Bears going with this selection.

Every time I put together a mock draft for the Bears, I keep coming away with Caleb Williams and an ultra-talented wideout. In this case, they sit tight with the ninth pick and land a terrific ball-winner with untapped potential as a route-runner.

Adding a dynamic young receiver like Odunze would only enhance a good receivers room that already has DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. That trio could be one of the best in the NFL (and Bears history).

If Chicago were to acquire this type of haul later this month, they could be seen as a potential playoff squad. General manager Ryan Poles has done a masterful job so far, and this is his chance to get even better.

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Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze are most popular players mocked to Bears

Most people have the Bears landing QB Caleb Williams and WR Rome Odunze in PFF’s mock draft simulator.

The Chicago Bears are sitting in a prime position ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, where they have a pair of top-10 selections. While they only have four total picks, they have three in the top 75 selections.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze are the most popular picks for Bears fans conducting mock drafts on Pro Football Focus‘ mock draft simulator.

Williams is the presumptive No. 1 pick, and he’s essentially a lock to land in Chicago at this point. Bears brass spent extensive time with Williams ahead of his pro day, and they’ll get to host him for a Top 30 visit next week, where it sounds like he’ll get a head start learning Shane Waldron’s offense.

While the No. 1 pick is far from a mystery, it’s the No. 9 selection that could get interesting depending on how the board falls. When listening to general manager Ryan Poles, it sounds like wide receiver, edge rusher and offensive tackle are all options at ninth overall.

If Odunze somehow fell to the Bears at No. 9, it should be an easy decision for Poles to land a top receiver who would’ve been the top wideout in any other draft class. While Chicago already has DJ Moore and newcomer Keenan Allen in place, adding Odunze to the fold would make the Bears offense absolutely electrifying and set up Williams for immediate success as a rookie.

As for Chicago’s third round selection (No. 75), the most popular pick on their mock draft simulator has been an edge rusher. While this isn’t a super deep edge rusher group, the Bears need to shore up their defensive line opposite Montez Sweat.

Bears pass on a QB in Cynthia Frelund’s first NFL mock draft

The expectation is the Bears will draft a quarterback at No. 1. But NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund has them passing on one.

What are the Chicago Bears going to do with their first overall pick? Are they going to trade it for a legendary haul? Will they use it? Who will they take if they do? All of these questions are going to be answered in the biggest offseason of general manager Ryan Poles’ career.

All signs point to Chicago trading Justin Fields and drafting a new quarterback with the first overall pick. A lot of people out there think that is the right move to make. USC quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to be the first quarterback off the board, and some scouts consider him to be a “generational” talent.

Not everybody thinks the Bears should either trade the pick or draft a quarterback though. NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund debuted her first mock draft last week, and it was very interesting. She had Chicago passing on a quarterback entirely and taking Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 1. This would allow the Bears to keep Fields and build the offense around him.

Alt is going to be a very good offensive lineman in the NFL, and Frelund believes he has what is needed to be the first overall pick in the draft. She had Williams going second to the Washington Commanders while the New England Patriots ended up with North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye of North Carolina. Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who a lot of Bears fans love, ended up with the Arizona Cardinals with pick No. 4.

Frelund clearly believes that the Bears can win with a quarterback like Fields, if they surround him with top talent. That became even more clear when she had Chicago taking LSU wideout Malik Nabers at No. 9.

She also clearly doesn’t think that Williams is a generational talent worth moving off a guy like Fields for. It is a very interesting perspective and Poles should be evaluating things from all angles. This is certainly one of them because adding these types of weapons would be amazing if Fields could find a way to be a franchise guy.

Throughout the rest of the offseason, there are going to be tons of mock drafts and opinions thrown out there by notable people. Frelund is no exception, and her mock draft makes a lot of sense if keeping Fields is the endgame.