Bears Mock Draft Monday: Ryan Poles executes a double trade down in the first round
The 2024 NFL Draft is just around the corner and there is still a lot to be decided between now and the start of next week. All eyes are on the Chicago Bears with the first and ninth overall selections in the draft, but the team will only have two picks left in the entire […]
The 2024 NFL Draft is just around the corner and there is still a lot to be decided between now and the start of next week.
All eyes are on the Chicago Bears with the first and ninth overall selections in the draft, but the team will only have two picks left in the entire draft after opening night.
In this mock draft, I will have general manager Ryan Poles get creative to add more draft capital. First, I will have the Bears trade the #9 overall pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the #12 overall pick and the #76 overall pick. Then, I will have the Bears trade back again, giving the Jacksonville Jaguars the #12 pick in exchange for the #96 overall pick and the #153rd overall pick using the Rich Hill trade chart.
1st Overall Pick: QB Caleb Williams
With a little over a week to go until the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off next Thursday, this continues to be the only surefire pick in the draft. The Bears are all but confirmed to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick.
Williams has already begun the offensive install process and has met with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and many other current players on the roster. Speaking of which, the Bears' roster is ready and primed for a rookie quarterback to come in and take the league by storm in Year 1. There's no uncertainty with this pick in the slightest.
17th Overall Pick (via JAX): DE Laiatu Latu
After moving down the board not once, but twice, the Bears are able to load up on some extra picks later in the draft while still having two Top-20 selections. With the Jaguars' former pick, the Bears can even still come away with a blue-chip prospect at a desirable position of interest on defense.
Many inside of the Bears' building have discussed the potential of adding another top edge rusher to complement defensive end Montez Sweat. So far, the Bears have brought in Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, Laiatu Latu, and Chop Robinson on visits. All of which are considered first round prospects.
Even after moving back, the Bears still come away with one of the top three edge rushers in Latu. Coming off back-to-back double digit sack seasons, he would be a phenomenal addition to the defensive line and I'm sure his recent visit in Chicago last week quelled all concerns about his previous injury history.
75th Overall Pick: OT Kiran Amegadjie
This is a position that continues to come up for the Bears and rightfully so. The team's front office has done some extensive research on the offensive tackle class, which is continuing to look like a deep position this year. Personally, I don't view the position as a major need on offense, but in this scenario I could see the team drafting a tackle.
Braxton Jones played like a Top-15 tackle last season after returning from injury and gave me enough confidence that he deserves the opportunity to, at the very least, compete for his job in 2024. However, I can also see why the team wants insurance.
Yale left tackle Kiran Amegadjie would be the perfect answer to the problem by being a guy who needs time to develop at the position but could also push Jones for the starting job if he catches on quickly. With the added draft capital, there's no harm in taking a flier on a promising prospect such as Amegadjie.
76th Overall Pick (via DEN): CB Andru Phillips
A player who will recently join the Bears' growing list of visits later today is Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips. The Bears have brought in a handful of cornerbacks who are all considered mid-late round prospects, which has earned my attention.
The Bears drafted two cornerbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft, Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith, each of whom played considerable snaps last season. The room also consists of Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson and nickel Kyler Gordon.
It never hurts to add more depth to the secondary and I'm a firm believer in adding a cornerback every year in the draft if you have the capital to do so. Depth is critical at that position and having talented depth is imperative for a team looking to make a deep run. Adding Phillips to the unit would help cross that off the list for the Bears.
96th Overall Pick (via JAX): WR Brenden Rice
The more and more I hear about the Bears using a Top-10 pick on a WR3, the more I'm leaning away from the idea. Yes, it would be exciting to see Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, or Rome Odunze join the offense but let's be realistic.
The best use of assets for the Bears is waiting, in a deep wide receiver class, to strike on adding an additional pass catcher to the offense. In this scenario, the Bears are able to do just that while still adding a solid wide receiver nearly 90 picks later in the draft.
Brenden Rice teaming back up with his college quarterback in Chicago would be a great story and would be a wonderful addition to make at this point in the draft. Last season, Rice had a team-high 12 touchdowns and scored in 10 different games.
122nd Overall Pick: S Tykee Smith
Another player who became a last minute addition to the Bears' radar is Georgia safety Tykee Smith. Smith had a uninspiring pre-draft process which will lead to a fall down the draft board, but that bodes well for the Bears with the added picks.
It's also easy to see why the team would be willing to bring him in for a visit. Smith is the perfect player for Matt Eberflus' defense with his football instincts, toughness and physicality. The need isn’t as major for the Bears, but it's an added luxury to have.
The Bears have already added Kevin Byard as a starter to replace Eddie Jackson and have Jaquan Brisker roaming the secondary. Depth-wise the team also has Jonathan Owens and Tarvarius Moore that were added this offseason. Smith's selling point is the ability to also play as a nickel, which would be a big need if Gordon were to go down.
153rd Overall Pick (via JAX): RB Dylan Laube
At this point, this draft has just turned into a depth arsenal with all of the team's major needs already filled. Another long-term depth concern could be at the running back position with Khalil Herbert on the final year of his contract.
While in Seattle, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron's offense never had a shortage of running backs on the roster and right now the Bears have D'Andre Swift, Herbert, Roschon Johnson, and Travis Homer.
Adding a dynamic player like Dylan Laube can help round out the group while having someone to compete with Homer for special teams snaps next season. Laube's work as a receiver out of the backfield is enticing alone and would be exciting to keep adding that kind of skillset to the backfield that desperately needed it in 2023.
Breaking down all of the Chicago Bears confirmed meetings ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft
It’s been a wide range of prospects.
