Bears Mock Draft Monday: Could Ryan Poles keep the 9th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft?
The Chicago Bears are getting set for the 2024 NFL Draft and are beginning to schedule Top-30 visits with top prospects after viewing several Pro Days across the country last week. The draft will be here before we know it and we are seemingly learning more information with each passing day regarding who different teams […]
The Chicago Bears are getting set for the 2024 NFL Draft and are beginning to schedule Top-30 visits with top prospects after viewing several Pro Days across the country last week.
The draft will be here before we know it and we are seemingly learning more information with each passing day regarding who different teams could be targeting.
In this week's mock draft, I will not be including any trades for the Bears, meaning the Bears will come away with only four selections in the draft. However, it's not as bad as it seems when you consider the team's previous 2024 selections where used to acquire Montez Sweat, Keenan Allen, and Ryan Bates as notable additions already. With that being said, here's how the Bears' ideal four selection draft would look.
1st Overall Pick: QB Caleb Williams
Within a few weeks, Caleb Williams will more than likely become the Bears' next franchise quarterback drafted with the first overall pick and there is no point in hiding this horribly kept secret any longer.
The Bears have done extensive research on Williams as a person and a player to gauge his potential as the team's next franchise superstar. General manager Ryan Poles and the rest of the Bears' decision-making crew got a solid look at Williams during USC's Pro Day last week and will soon have a Top-30 visit with him once again.
Nothing between now and April's draft should change this potential decision in any way, shape, or form. The new era in Chicago will begin with Williams leading the way.
9th Overall Pick: DE Dallas Turner
After landing the best quarterback prospect in the draft, the Bears could turn around and land the best defensive prospect in the class in pass rusher Dallas Turner depending on how the first eight selections turn out.
If Turner is on the board by the time the Bears are back on the clock, this should be a no hesitation selection despite the lack of draft capital beyond this pick. The Bears have already done extensive homework on Turner at the NFL Scouting Combine and will have an upcoming Top-30 visit.
The combination of Montez Sweat and Turner at defensive end is sure to put fear in the eyes of opposing quarterbacks while head coach Matt Eberflus' zone scheme will look to take advantage of the heavy pass rush presence by creating turnovers in the secondary. Everything about this fit makes sense, if Turner is actually available.
75th Overall Pick: WR Brenden Rice
Wide receiver is no longer as pressing of a need for the Bears' offense after acquiring Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers, especially if they can agree to a long term deal in Chicago. That being said, I still believe the Bears will target a wide receiver in the draft due to the lack of depth at the position behind DJ Moore and Allen.
As deep of a wide receiver class as it is, the Bears' front office can benefit from that by pivoting on the position in the first round and instead still land a top prospect on Day 2. Brenden Rice is a player I have my eye on after the Bears spoke with him last week.
The Bears could look to reunite Williams and Rice together in Chicago with Rice becoming the third option at the position with the potential to emerge in a more featured role long-term. Plus, he already had good things to say about the city when asked about the potential of Williams landing in Chicago.
122nd Overall Pick: CB Nehemiah Pritchett
This would be an interesting direction to see the Bears take with what currently would be their final pick in the draft barring any trades. The Bears' cornerback room is already loaded with talent in Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, and Terell Smith but why not continue to bolster the strength?
The Bears' front office is already keeping tabs on Nehemiah Pritchett after putting together a Top-30 visit and if things turn out to go well, he could be on the team's radar later on in the draft.
According to Pro Football Focus, Pritchett allowed a career-best 58.8 passer rating in coverage in 2023 while recording one interception and five forced incompletions. He played the majority of the snaps on the outside last season and could be the ideal player to develop behind Johnson and Stevenson while building up the depth.
Multiple Bears’ players share thoughts on Caleb Williams potentially being the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
They seem to be on the same page.
