The Chicago Bears are fully expecting to come away with a blue-chip prospect with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft with the expectation that the team will take their next franchise quarterback with the first overall pick.

Bears' general manager Ryan Poles revealed last month that the organization will be looking to determine which position the team should target with the ninth selection between wide receiver, offensive tackle, and a pass rusher of some sorts.

Personally, I believe the Bears will decide to add either a wide receiver or a defensive lineman with that specific pick, unless the team decides to trade out of nine in some capacity. If the Bears stay at nine, here are five elite prospects the front office could consider selecting if they are on the board. Note, this list will exclude wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. who I believe will have no chance of making it to the Bears' pick.

LSU WR Malik Nabers

While I believe Harrison won't reach the ninth overall pick, I do believe there is a small chance that LSU's Malik Nabers could fall down the board in the Top-10. In the off chance this happens, the Bears will need to be running to the podium.

Depending on who you ask, there seems to be differing opinions on the ranking of the top three wide receivers in the class; especially between Nabers and Rome Odunze. Barring any trade ups into the Top-10 made by a wide receiver hungry team, I think the Bears have a realistic shot to have one of the two on the board at nine.

Nabers would be the most enticing option to add to the Bears' offense alongside DJ Moore and Keenan Allen after leading the FBS in receiving yards per game and receptions of 20+ yards during the 2023 season.

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Washington WR Rome Odunze

As good as Nabers is, Washington's Rome Odunze can be considered even better at certain aspects of the game. When it comes to route running ability, ball tracking skills, and 50/50 play, Odunze is top notch. Even as a downfield weapon, his 32 receptions of 20+ yards ranked second in the FBS only behind Nabers.

It's easy to see why many experts are torn between the two top wide receivers when it comes to the projections and rankings and I'm sure that's the same mindset inside of the various team buildings across the league.

Odunze's experience and projection as a true X-receiver will allow Moore to play as the Z and Allen to remain in the slot. Everything about Odunze as a prospect excites me and honestly the Bears couldn’t go wrong with Nabers or Odunze if one of the two are on the board once the team is back on the clock.

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Alabama DE Dallas Turner

If the Bears are leaning more towards adding a top pass rusher to the defensive line as opposed to adding a top wide receiver, look no further than Alabama's Dallas Turner. During the NFL Scouting Combine, Turner proved what's on the tape in regards to what kind of a freak he is at the position.

The Bears will have some competition to get Turner with the ninth pick but it only takes one or two teams to pass on him in favor of some other prospect. 

The Consensus All-American set a career-high with 11.0 sacks during the 2023 season. Having Turner come off the edge opposite of Montez Sweat will be a frightening duo for opposing quarterbacks to face each and every week of the season.

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UCLA DE Laiatu Latu

Another pass rusher I think has the traits to excel at the next level is UCLA's Laiatu Latu. Unlike Turner, Latu is more instinctive and athletic. Dane Brugler, of The Athletic, compared Latu to Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and it couldn’t be a more spot on prospect comparison. 

The only concern with taking Latu this high is the medical history during his collegiate career. Back in November of 2020, Latu suffered a neck injury that forced him to medically retire in 2021 until he transferred to UCLA and was cleared to play again.

Latu's 13.0 sacks in 2023 were more than enough reason to consider him a top prospect and during the combine he revealed that none of the teams he met with brought up the injury concern. However, those conversations might have been saved for the visits he's had a team facilities since then, like he had in Chicago this week.

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Texas DT Byron Murphy II

This is becoming a sneaky dark horse selection for the Bears with the ninth overall pick after head coach Matt Eberflus and defensive end Montez Sweat eluded to the idea of adding a defensive lineman in any capacity, either on the inside or the edge.

Texas' Byron Murphy II is easily the best interior defensive lineman in the class and would give Eberflus' defense a monster 3-tech to add to the defensive line while still being able to add an additional pass rusher off the edge later in the draft.

Murphy is incredibly athletic and powerful on the interior of the front and could be the ideal 3-tech that would allow Sweat to play more of the exit game that he's stated he wants to run more of in 2024. A player like Murphy can help make that happen.

Breaking down all of the Chicago Bears confirmed meetings ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft

It’s been a wide range of prospects.